Roll Over Beethoven

Peter Thomas lives his life split between musical worlds. He is a cellist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and he plays electric cello with the Milwaukee band, I’m Not A Pilot, which plays classically infused indie pop music and was chosen as both Radio Milwaukee’s “Band of Year” and the Shepherd Express’ “Best Rock Band” for 2010. Thomas and his band mates always had dreams to play alongside a full orchestra. This week’s concert at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center will realize that dream.

The band will join members of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra to perform five fully orchestrated songs from I’m Not a Pilot’s latest album, The Story So Far as well as other orchestrated pieces from the band’s earlier albums.  And both the band and the MYSO will also have the chance to perform music separately, making the concert a fully integrated mix of classical and rock — and all performed by local musicians.

“This is exactly the type of experience you’d get at the Riverside, except it’s not a touring group,” says Thomas. “This is Milwaukee.”

I’m Not A Pilot, which began to take shape in 2007, has a diverse array of influences ranging from Arcade Fire to Johannes Brahms. Its unique sound comes from a mix of Thomas’ electric strings, the keyboard and vocals from lead singer Mark Glatzel, drums from Steve Vorass Jr., and bass guitar from Adrian Esguerra.

Adding an orchestral element to the mix only heightens the sound. “It’s big and completely intimidating,” Thomas says. “The blood rush to the head and the musical high you get from playing in front of an orchestra is absolutely tremendous.”

Thomas came up with the idea of joining forces with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra about a year ago over a cup of coffee with South MIlwaukee Performing Arts Center director Chad Piechocki. Thomas, who taught students in the MYSO ensemble, already had a good relationship with its music director, Carter Simmons. After a quick discussion with the maestro, the event was a go — and a year-long intensive planning process began.

By January and February, members of I’m Not A Pilot were working with orchestral arranger Jim Gray — known for his work with such bands as Imagine Dragons and Flaming Lips — to put together charts for the orchestra. The process was a challenge. “We needed to strip it down so it wasn’t too difficult for a student orchestra to pick up and play,” Thomas says.

By March, it was time to bring in the students and test out the collaboration. “From the very first rehearsal, we were like, ‘Oh my God. This is awesome,’” Thomas says.

The collaboration also brought additional benefits for the young MYSO musicians. As part of the preparations for the concert, Thomas brought his electric cello to the MYSO and showed its students how he uses his looping station live, with a full demonstration on distortion and delayed pedaling.

“Everybody was just glued — it was something they never seen before,” he explains. “I think it’s so important to spread what I’ve learned. Hopefully by the time they hear the concert, they’re totally jazzed.”

Thomas hopes the event catches on, eventually finding its way into the programs of other orchestras in the area. Next step would be to tour the Midwest, but Thomas has far bigger plans. “We want to take this orchestral pops show and go around the world with it,” Thomas says. “I’m a big dreamer.”

The attraction, Thomas believes, is I’m Not A Pilot’s unique approach to its genre. “We’re not coming into this as a rock-pop group with a classical influence,” he explains. “We’re going the classical route with a rock-pop influence.”

“I think the classical music world needs a breath of fresh air, and maybe introducing a classical rock band can be attractive regionally,” Thomas says.

But first things first. The band needs to nail it at this week’s concert. “It’s going to be awesome,” Thomas predicts.

7:30 p.m., April 25. Tickets range from $12-$29 and are available online.

Other events coming up:

All Rachmaninoff with the MSO

Internationally-acclaimed pianist Joyce Yang will join the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a concert dedicated to the work of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Led by MSO music director Edo de Waart and always featuring Yang as guest soloist, the annual Rachmaninoff concert is typically a sell-out, so you’d be wise to order tickets quickly. This year, the MSO will be tackling Rachmaninoff’s “Prince Rostislav,” Piano Concert No. 4 in G minor and Symphony No. 3 in A minor.

11:15 a.m. April 25, 8 p.m. April 26 and 2:30 p.m. April 27. Tickets range from $22-$82, available online or by calling (414) 291-7605.

Music by William Walton by the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra

The Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Opera Theatre and the Danceworks Performance Company will come together for the third consecutive season to tackle the avant-garde poetry of Edith Sitwell, accompanied by music by William Walton.

In 1922, Walton created the musical accompaniment to Sitwell’s nonsensical poems, titled “Façade,” the work was later staged as a ballet by Gunter Hess in 1929.

7:30 p.m., April 25-27. Tickets are available online.

Lyric Masters by the Wisconsin Philharmonic

The Wisconsin Philharmonic will go completely Romantic this week, featuring works by Richard Wagner, Peter Tchaikovsky and Camille Saint-Saens in his concert, Lyric Masters.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s cellist Adrien Zitoun will join the Philharmonic as guest performer.

3 p.m., April 27, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Tickets range from $17-$39 and are available online or by calling (262) 547-1858.