By Anna Prushinskaya, University Musical Society

University Musical Society (UMS), an arts presenting organization based in southeastern Michigan, presented a 10-week, 10-event ‘Renegade’ series, focusing on thought-leaders and game-changers in the performing arts.  The series is bookended by two highly prestigious events, both bringing national attention to the Detroit metropolitan area.

In our last post for Knight Arts, we reflected on Einstein on the Beach, the event that opened our series. This weekend, we’re in the midst of the San Francisco Symphony American Mavericks festival, which closes the series. As part of its centennial season, San Francisco Symphony and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas present the second American Mavericks festival, which will tour in its entirety to only two US venues: Hill Auditorium and Carnegie Hall. The 2012 festival celebrates the creative pioneering spirit and the composers who created a new American musical voice for the 20th century and beyond.

On our blog, umsLOBBY.org, guest-blogger Leslie Stainton (un-prompted!) notes a musical connection between these bookends. At the SFS performance last night, she says, “I’m hearing echoes of Einstein on the Beach in the organ’s runs. UMS has truly bookended its Renegade series.” What’s been very satisfying throughout this series is to listen in and participate in a conversation with our audience: 90 comments in our discussion of Einstein on the Beach, and many visitors to our new in-venue video booth, which began its run with Einstein.

We’ve already received a rush of comments since last night’s American Mavericks performance. You can join the conversation. Or, listen in to these reactions from our video booth:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtEpDQyTIjo
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV9br7-s_Hw

Finally, check out our Maverick Mondays video series to learn more about the composers featured in this festival.