Mark Laycock
The 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra will honor the 50th anniversary of the film 鈥淭o Kill a Mockingbird鈥� with a special performance of excerpts from Elmer Bernstein's score at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in Miller Concert Hall. This multimedia presentation will be narrated by Mary Badham, the actress who played Scout. Mark Laycock will conduct the program.
Tickets are $7 with discounts available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (316) 978-3233 or .
Excerpts from Bernstein鈥檚 unforgettable musical score will accompany visual images from the production and Badham鈥檚 own recollections of her lifelong friendship with Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch). The concert will also include music from other cinema favorites, including 鈥淗ow the West Was Won,鈥� 鈥淜ings Row,鈥� 鈥�1941,鈥� 鈥淪tar Trek鈥� and 鈥淭he Little Mermaid.鈥�
Badham, who had no prior acting experience, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the youngest person ever to do so. She appeared in two other films, 鈥淭his Property Is Condemned鈥� (1966) and 鈥淟et鈥檚 Kill Uncle鈥� (1966). Her TV appearances included 鈥淒r. Kildare鈥� and the 鈥淭wilight Zone.鈥� She later retired from acting to pursue an education.
She maintained close contact with Peck and occasionally accompanied him on his lecture tours and to award ceremonies. Today, Badham maintains a busy schedule lecturing to audiences internationally about the book and film.
The 2012-13 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra concert season features faculty artists Leonid Shukaev, cello, and Sarunas Jankauskas, clarinet, as well as collaborations with alumni trombonist Michael Powell and Grammy Award-nominated jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton. Recent Symphony appearances include a 2011 concert at Carnegie Hall, participation in the 2008 International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Zaragoza, Spain, and multiple invited performances at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop.
Laycock is an associate professor of music at 麻豆传媒, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship. He was recognized with the 麻豆传媒 Excellence in Creative Activity Award (2012) and the College of Fine Arts Excellence in Teaching Award (2007). He is a member of the board of directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic; he was recently appointed chair of orchestra activities. His work as guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator spans 22 states, including the leadership of all-state orchestras.