This month, the city of Norman will resonate with the sound of music with the fourth annual Resonance Series.
“The Resonance Series brings music professionals from around the world to share their experiences and stories, provide future generations with insight into the industry and career paths, perform with members of the community, give masterclasses, and more,” explains Eric Walschap, an administrative coordinator, professor of artist management and adjunct professor of music in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University, who coordinates the large-scale event.
Since its inception in fall 2020, over 60 guests have spoken for the series, including more than 30 Grammy winners representing 150-plus Grammy wins and over 300 Grammy nominations, with over a dozen Grammy winners slated to come to Norman in the next 12 months.
Resonance Series guests have played in big-name bands, including (to name only a few) Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Elton John, Ray Charles, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, B. B. King, Sting, Aretha Franklin and James Brown. Other guests have been featured in Pixar Movies, TED Mainstages, Oprah, The Voice, American Idol, NPR’s Tiny Desk, BBC Proms, and late-night talk shows including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman and Seth Meyers.
"This fall, on Sept. 10-11, the series will welcome eight women who are among the most elite musicians on the planet," Walschap said.
"While they have all played with dozens of superstars," he added, "they include Beyonce’s drummer and keyboardist, Alicia Keys’ percussionist, Kanye West’s saxophonist, Silk Sonic’s guitarist, Tauk’s singer, Lizzo’s bassist, and the trumpet player for the Rolling Stones.
"In the spring, the series will welcome the four-time Grammy-winning engineer for Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran, a platinum-selling superstar from Broadway, and a legendary singer/actor who has been on 11 Broadway productions and acted in films like Avengers: End Game, The Wolf of Wall Street and Everything Everywhere All at Once."
Walschap encourages all interested persons to “join us for free in-person or online for this unique opportunity to listen to, work with and ask questions of the music industry’s most successful experts.”
In addition to the OU College of Fine Arts, the Resonance Series is sponsored in part by the Norman Arts Council, Kitt Wakeley, the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), Onyx Lane, Midway Deli, The Pioneer Library System, The Embassy Suites of Norman, Norman Public Schools, Gilliam Music, the Norman Music Institute, Imagine Music and Arts, Montford Inn, Benvenuti’s Ristorante, Legend’s Restaurant, The Winston, Louis Bar & Grill, Tea Cafe, the Walschap family, and Elaine Kemler.
Following is a listing of events that are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. A full and up-to-date schedule can be found at Music.ou.edu/resonance.
Sept. 10
10:30 a.m. - Jazz Improv with Beyonce/Kanye West's Saxophonist – 014 Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St.
Noon - Public Q&A with full band - Norman Public Library West, 300 Norman Center Court
1:30 p.m. - Trumpet Studio Clinic with Rolling Stones' Trumpet Player – 032 Catlett
Percussion Studio Clinic with Beyonce's Drummer – 107A Catlett
4 p.m. - Piano Masterclass with Beyonce's Pianist - Imagine Music and Arts, 800 West Rock Creek Road
Sept. 11
8 a.m. - Guitar/Bass Masterclass with Silk Sonic’s Guitarist and Lizzo’s Bassist – 032 Catlett
9 a.m. - Trumpet/Saxophone/Drums/Percussion Tech Masterclasses with Beyonce/Jay-Z/Rolling Stones members - Locations throughout Catlett
9 a.m. - OU Libraries Q&A with Beyonce's Pianist and Tauk's Vocalist - Catlett Fine Arts Library
12:30 p.m. - Resonance Q&A with all eight band members – 116 Catlett
8 p.m. - 116 Concert in Catlett Music Center
Next month, look to this magazine for photo highlights and a recap of this amazing music series.