Southern Miss Conductor Breathes New Life into Work with Groundbreaking Technology
Tue, 06/24/2025 - 09:38am | By: Dr. Mike Lopinto
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Music’s Dr. Gregory Wolynec has released a new version of Osvaldo Golijov's “La Pasión según San Marcos” that is breathing new life into an incredible work for orchestra, percussion ensemble and chorus.
Under Wolynec’s guidance, the monumental piece—which blends elements of salsa, Gregorian chant, flamenco and folk music—is being released using cutting edge technology to both engage new listeners and provide a fresh perspective on a contemporary classic. The recording, featuring the Gateway Chamber Orchestra and Chorale under Wolynec’s direction, was recently released by Summit Records in audio formats and is available wherever you stream or purchase music. It is also available in a pioneering 20-minute virtual reality format on the Epic and Steam platforms. Additionally, a complete performance is available on YouTube utilizing 360-degree video technology. Plans are already underway for live performances in Hattiesburg.
Originally premiered in 2000, “La Pasión según San Marcos” was created as part of a celebration of J.S. Bach’s 250thanniversary. It blends genres and cultures, breaking through the traditional boundaries of classical music. For over a decade, the piece was performed by a dedicated ensemble, the Orquesta La Pasión, along with the Schola Cantorum of Venezuela. By 2015, performances had become rare. Wolynec saw an opportunity to reinvigorate the work, drawing on the rich diversity of talent within the Gateway Chamber Orchestra in Tennessee (of which he is also the music director) and the Middle Tennessee communities that it drew from.
“The first time I heard this masterpiece, I was immediately captivated by the way it blended so many different musical worlds,” Wolynec shared. “It is a life changing work that challenges musicians in so many wonderful ways. Once we committed to presenting it, I had to spend almost six months sorting out how to bring it together and assemble the forces needed.”
Wolynec, who oversaw performances of the work in both 2022 and 2023 with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra and Chorale, assembled a choir of 50, an orchestra of 20 and an additional five percussionists. The orchestra calls for a wide array of instruments, including traditional strings, brass and percussion. However, the work also calls for nearly 40 more exotic instruments that require specialization such as conga and batá drums.
“Ultimately, we needed to bring in two original creative partners for the work–singer/dancer Reynaldo Gonzalez Fernandez and percussionists Mike Ringquist,” Wolynec explained. “The choir needed to have a rustic sound, so we enlisted a lot of my instrumental students from Austin Peay State University and discovered that we had a few salsa singing naturals among their ranks. It was also very special to bring in Venezuelan mezzo Luisana (Rivas), a former student of mine, to sing several featured numbers.”
The live recordings were captured in 2023 and have been released to mark the 25th anniversary of the work. This was a historic moment for Wolynec and his ensemble. As it had only previously been presented by the Orquesta La Pasión with the Schola Cantorum of Venezuela, these recordings offer an opportunity to experience a fresh take on this classic. GRAMMY-winning sound engineer John Hill was enlisted to capture audio in the highest possible resolution. Due to the work’s theatrical nature, including the use of Capoeira dancing, Wolynec worked with New York-based Agile Lens. Under the direction of Alex Coulombe, their team crafts immersive experiences for real and virtual worlds.
“Being able to present this new perspective across three different formats has taken a tremendous effort, but I am so pleased with the results,” Wolynec explained. “The technologies that were employed have never been used in our field. I was extremely excited to share the audio version of this work, but I also hoped to capture our performance in a more immersive way. A significant Google grant allowed us to partner with Agile Lines. People I have shared this version with have called it mind-blowing.”
With Wolynec at the helm of the acclaimed USM Symphony Orchestra, the School of Music is exploring ways to bring “La Pasión según San Marcos” to the stage in the near future, offering the entire community a chance to experience this work in all its glory. This ambitious project underscores the importance of collaboration and the power of music to bridge cultures and experiences. The School of Music continues to be a leader in offering diverse and meaningful musical experiences to students and the broader community. With the leadership of Wolynec and the collective talent of our faculty, Southern Miss continues to make its mark as a hub of musical innovation and excellence.