The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra has re-activated its Men in Black Brass Quintet to serve local music education efforts, and enliven the community this Spring. The quintet, comprised of KSO brass players, began back in the late 1990s, adopting the appearance of the characters in the Men in Black film franchise (black suits, dark sun glasses). They even employ a neuralizer (“flashy-thingy”) to make audiences forget any missed notes, and to remember what they learned throughout the program.
In addition to visiting music classes at Ryle and Beechwood High Schools (during class time April 20 and 21), the M.I.B. Quintet will play evening public community concerts at libraries in Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties covering a 500-year history of brass instruments in western music.
The high school concerts and masterclasses are part of the KSO’s free education outreach program that will wrap up its 31st year, reaching a cumulative total of nearly 170,000 tristate students.
The library series is funded via an ArtsWave placemaking grant that toured the orchestra’s Flood Wall Jazz Quartet in the M.I.B Quintet at 2001 Citigroup Renovation Opening late Fall, and now the M.I.B. Quintet to libraries branches in the three NKY counties, also cost free.
ArtsWave is winding down its annual fundraising campaign in May, which supports over 150 arts organizations across the Tristate each year.
Visiting schools and libraries throughout NKY allows the KSO to reach out and engage students and neighbors across Northern Kentucky” said M.I.B. Agent Zed. The music spans centuries and musical eras from the Renaissance to today including Danny Elfman’s theme to the M.I.B. fillms and John Williams’ Star Wars music (for those with alien inclinations).
Join the KSO’s M.I.B. Brass quintet for its Spring NKY library tour:
• 7 p.m. Friday, April 24 at the Campbell County Library (Carrico /Ft. Thomas Branch);
• 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Boone Co. Library (Burlington Branch) and
• 2 p.m. May 2, 2026 at the Kenton Co.Library (Latonia Branch).
Coming soon at the KSO:
“Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme” (An evening of Simon and Garfunkel) 7:30 Friday, May 15 Greaves, NKU Rare Bourbon Raffle (Supporting KSO free Summer Park Concerts & Education Concerts) 9 p.m. Saturday May 30.
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra