Trinidad & Tobago steelpan artist featured in Michigan Philharmonic's "Night in the Tropics"

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Feb. 17, 2022 - PRLog -- It's still winter in Michigan but music lovers everywhere can enjoy a warm evening of Caribbean sounds on Friday, March 11 as the Michigan Philharmonic presents a tropical adventure featuring the pulsating rhythms of dynamic steelpan soloist Josanne Francis.

Led by Conductor and Music Director Nan Washburn, now in her 23^rd season, the orchestra will perform a number of pieces featuring Francis and the steelpan, including Jan Bach's unique "Concerto for Steelpan and Orchestra."

Sure to be a vibrant and joyous evening, this concert mixes all of the cultural sounds of Latin America and the Caribbean, including sultry themes galore, from Louis Moreau Gottschalk's "Symphony No. 1: A Night in the Tropics" to Morton Gould's "Tropical." Other pieces include George Gershwin's "Cuban Overture" and Arturo Márquez's "Conga del Fuego Nuevo."

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Plymouth and also includes a side-by-side performance with the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Symphony during the Gershwin piece.

Born and raised in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Josanne Francis is an internationally known steelpan performer and music educator. She has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and has appeared as a guest artist and clinician at festivals and universities across the United States.

Francis was one of six Artists in Residence at Strathmore Music Center for the 2017-2018 season and has presented at Arts Education and STEAM conferences in Maryland and Washington, DC. She currently runs her very own educational steelpan program called Steel on Wheels which has had residencies across the state of Maryland, Washington DC, and New York.

For tickets, contact the Michigan Philharmonic at www.michiganphil.org or call (734) 451-2112. You can also contact the Philharmonic at info@michiganphil.org.

All of the Philharmonic's concerts are subject to time and date changes as well as health restrictions already in place at the venues listed. To protect everyone involved in their performances the Philharmonic is asking patrons to wear masks during the performances.

Francis is available for phone or email interviews. Please contact media rep Logos Communications to make the arrangements.