The Gilmore to Broadcast Premiere of ‘American Sputnik’

The Gilmore to Broadcast Premiere of ‘American Sputnik’ By David SalazarThe Gilmore will release a broadcast of “American Sputnik,” a new one-act monodrama exploring pianist Van Cliburn’s victory at the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition, on July 12 via its YouTube channel. Composed by Evan Mack with a libretto by Mark Campbell, the work premiered on May 1, 2026, at Kalamazoo’s Chenery Auditorium as part of the Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival. The work was co commissioned by The Gilmore and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, continuing a partnership that has previously produced Richard Adams’ “Tandem Voices” for two pianos and percussion ensemble. The premiere featured the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra under Julian Kuerti, baritone Joseph Lattanzi, and pianist Stanislav Khristenko. “Commissioning, presenting and now broadcasting American Sputnik reflects The Gilmore’s vision of pushing the boundaries of what a piano festival can offer,” Dr. Pierre van der Westhuizen, Executive and Artistic Director of The Gilmore, said, per an official press release. Founded in 1989, The Gilmore has commissioned more than 45 new works for piano from composers including Matthew Aucoin, Elliott Carter, Chick Corea, and Nico Muhly, and awarded more than three million dollars through its Gilmore Artist Award and related programs. The broadcast will remain available on The Gilmore’s YouTube channel in perpetuity.