Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: World Premiere Honoring 15 KU Icons
Thursday • November 6, 2025 • 7:30 pm
Main Auditorium
The world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) brought down the house premiering Rock Chalk Suite, a commission honoring 15 KU basketball legends, at the Lied Center in 2018. The resounding feedback made it clear—we must build upon this groundbreaking and remarkable work.
The JLCO members will, once again, compose a new work commissioned by the Lied Center, this time inspired by seminal figures in KU history—from athletes to an astronaut, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and more. Through the generosity of private donors, each movement of the new commission is sponsored, and proceeds from the project will help fund bus transportation for all students in USD 497 to attend free, school-only performances. Join us for a truly memorable moment in the KU community when the world’s greatest jazz orchestra commemorates iconic Jayhawks at the world premiere on November 6.
See the featured KU icons and movement sponsors below.
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Jazz at Lincoln Center is led by Chairman Clarence Otis, Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, and Executive Director Greg Scholl. JLCO, comprising 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today, has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988 and spends over a third of the year on tour across the world. Featured in all aspects of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s programming, this remarkably versatile orchestra performs and leads educational events in New York, across the U.S. and around the globe; in concert halls; dance venues; jazz clubs; public parks; and with symphony orchestras; ballet troupes; local students; and an ever-expanding roster of guest artists. Under Music Director Wynton Marsalis, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performs a vast repertoire, from rare historic compositions to Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned works, including compositions and arrangements by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, and current and former Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra members Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Ted Nash, Victor Goines, Sherman Irby, Chris Crenshaw and Carlos Henriquez.
| KU LEGEND | MOVEMENT SPONSORS |
|---|---|
| Ochai Agbaji, men’s basketball | Jon & Vicki Jamison |
| Jim Bausch, men’s track & field, football | Anonymous in honor of Tom Rupp |
| Ray Evans, football/basketball | Janis Bulgren |
| Barney Graham, vaccine pioneer, immunologist, virologist and clinical-trials physician | KU’s Office of the Chancellor |
| John Hadl, football | Steve & Chris Edmonds |
| Ainise Havili & Kelsie Payne, volleyball | Martha Gage in honor of Ralph Gage |
| Frank Mason III, men’s basketball | Dr. Larry Weeda Jr. & Sharon L. Polk |
| John McLendon, men's basketball coach, Naismith Hall of Famer, inventor of the fast break | John & Rosy Elmore |
| Billy Mills, men’s track & field | Dave & Libby Domann |
| Al Oerter, men’s track & field | Bill & Marlene Penny |
| Loral O’Hara, NASA astronaut | Dr. Jim & Vickie Otten |
| Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize winner | Jeff & Mary Weinberg |
| Gale Sayers, football | Beverly Smith Billings in honor of Bob Billings |
| Marilynn Smith, women’s golf | Anonymous in honor of Sue Mango |
| Marian Washington, women’s basketball coach | Miles & Paula Schnaer |
