"Dust in the Wind" -- UW Symphony performs with legendary rock band Kansas on April 27

Legendary rock band Kansas will perform with the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra Friday, April 27, at 8 p.m. in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium. Tickets cost $49 for premium seating and $39 general admission. For ticket information, call the UW Fine Arts box office at (307) 766-6666 or visit www.uwyo.edu/finearts.

The 2012 Kansas Collegiate Symphony Tour is an effort to raise funds and awareness for collegiate music programs.

"The UWSO has performed with some of the world's great artists, but this is the first time we've backed a rock band," says Michael Griffith, UW Symphony Orchestra conductor. "It's a terrific opportunity to be heard by a new audience, and to have this wonderful new experience. We'll be the ‘warm-up band' before Kansas takes the stage."

Kansas' hits "Carry on My Wayward Son," "Point of Know Return," and "Dust in the Wind" will be performed with orchestral parts. The symphony's conductor, Larry Baird, has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony, in addition to major pop-music names such as Three Dog Night, Al Jarreau, the Moody Blues and Michael Bolton.

In 2010, Kansas began performing concerts with college and university symphonies throughout the United States. After the successful 2010 Kansas Collegiate Symphony tour, the band expanded the 2012 tour to include 27 collegiate symphonies with added performances in the western region.

"Kansas and all the school symphonies hit it off big time," say Phil Ehart, Kansas drummer. "The only people having more fun than us are the students playing on stage with us."

This concert tour is presented by D'Addario & Company. For more information on Kansas, visit http://www.kansasband.com/ .

Photo: The University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra will perform with the legendary rock band Kansas Friday, April 27, at 8 p.m., in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium.