Music Unbound: From Stage to Screen with Michael Abels

Name: Music Unbound: From Stage to Screen with Michael Abels
Start: 2026-03-06T19:15:00-05:00
Location: Cornell Cinema

Schedule

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026 at 07:15 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Cornell Cinema | Ithaca, NY

Join us for two events celebrating the artistry of Michael Abels, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer behind the scores of Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” “Us,” and “Nope.” Abels’ work transcends boundaries, also including powerful concert compositions such as “Omar,” an opera co-created with Rhiannon Giddens.
Friday, March 6
Kick off the experience at Cornell Cinema with a 7:15 p.m. panel discussion between Abels and Cornell faculty, exploring how music shapes storytelling on screen, followed by an 8 p.m. screening of “Us,” featuring Abels’ spine-tingling score. The film and discussion are free and free popcorn will be served!
Saturday, March 7
The celebration continues at Bailey Hall with a Cornell Wind Symphony concert at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a 6:30 p.m. panel between Abels and faculty. Abels joins as guest composer for the concert, alongside soprano Lisa Williamson, flutist Juliana Pepinsky and clarinetist Louis Arques. The program includes Abels’ “Unbound” and “Winged Creatures,” selections from “Omar” and Duke Ellington’s “A Tone Parallel to Harlem.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience music that moves from the big screen to the concert stage. Free and open to the public!
Presented in partnership with Cornell’s Department of Music and Cornell Cinema, this event is part of the Arts Unplugged series in the College of Arts & Sciences.