CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR
K I R K   M U S P R A T T
 LESSONS IN CONDUCTING

Tuesday, February 19, 5:30-8:30pm
 The Lounge at Iwan Ries, 19 South Wabash

Cocktails at 5:30, presentation 6:00-6:30
followed by discussion and more cocktails.    
$40 includes drinks, two cigars, and sandwiches. 
 Reservations are required.

Maestro Kirk Muspratt was named Chicagoan of the Year by John von Rhine and the Chicago Tribune for his work with the New Philharmonic Symphony, the DuPage Opera, and the Northern Indiana Symphony Orchestra. His repertoire runs the gamut from Otello and Turandot to the Merry Widow and Die Fledermaus; from Mahler to Korngold. But his most extraordinary achievement is in explaining the complexities and beauty of his programs to his audiences, young and old, with an eloquence and clarity unmatched in the world of conducting since Leonard Bernstein.

Kirk was born in Crow's Nest Pass, Alberta, and enjoyed a rather undistinguished youth with minor flirtations with the law until he was cuffed by the local piano teacher. The muse struck. There were competitions in Winnipeg and Toronto, and a scholarship to the Julliard School in New York.  Kirk has been assistant and resident conductor at the Utah Symphony, the St, Louis Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Symphony where he has worked along side Leonard Slatkin and Lorin Maazel.  He has guest conducted the London, Detroit, Montreal, and Los Angeles symphonies. (David O’Connor wanted me to point out that Kirk once conducted the Providence, Rhode Island Philharmonic, David's home town). He has conducted at summer festivals at Tanglewood, Chautauqua, Swanee, and Banff. In all his musical engagements around the country and world, Kirk has been singled out as an educator. He is tenured with the Conductors Guild and teaches conducting at universities around the country. He will attempt to give a few lessons in conducting to the Cigar Society on Tuesday, February 19th.

About the Cigar Society of Chicago

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND greatest traditions of the city clubs of Chicago is the discussion of intellectual, social, legal, artistic, historical, scientific, musical, theatrical, and philosophical issues in the company of educated, bright, and appropriately provocative individuals, all under the beneficent influence of substantial amounts of tobacco and spirits.  The Cigar Society of Chicago embraces this tradition and extends it with its Informal Smokers, University Series lectures, and Cigar Society Dinners, in which cigars, and from time to time pipes and cigarettes, appear as an important component of our version of the classical symposium.  To be included in the Cigar Society's mailing list, write to the Secretary at curtis.tuckey@logicophilosophicus.org.