Music professor traveling Route 66 as inspiration for new work

EDMOND (KOKH) — A music professor who has been traveling Route 66 for almost a year, getting inspiration to compose new work, made a stop Sunday in Edmond.

Dr. Nolan Stolz is composing an orchestra symphony inspired by Route 66, and he told KOKH that he has been on the road for about 200 days now and has only been home for about two weeks since his journey began in July 2021.

Inspired by the most famous highway in the US, the work titled 'Route 66 Suite' will be a musical reflection of the historic highway, representing various aspects of the road.

"I take a lot of inspiration from even just the rhythm of the animated sign or just the bright colors, but everything from old theaters, to tower theater, for instance," said Stolz.

Stolz has been spending time in every town along Route 66, getting to know the community.

"So I'm doing eight complete route 66 trips for westbound, four east. I'm on my fourth westbound trip right now on my way to LA," said Stolz. "Hearing live music, meeting people all of its inspiration."

He will continue to travel Route 66 through the end of July, and begin writing the music this August.

"I'm just taking pictures and video and getting inspiration. I'm not trying to write the actual music yet. is too much to deal with while traveling," Stolz said.

Highway 66 is turning 100 years old in 2026, and he will have the composition ready by then for orchestras to perform.

"The plan is to have it premiered in 2026 for the 100th year anniversary, but I need to get it done in probably 2024 to get it in the hands of conductors. So I've been meeting conductors, executive directors of symphony orchestras along the route," Stolz said.

He has enjoyed his whole journey, but he says one memory stands out.

"There's this private farmland that the original route 66 from 1926 to the early 30s. Went through this guy's property, and it's been fenced off for decades. He heard about my project gave me the gate code to his property and let me drive up and down old 66 He's only let two or three people do that ever," Stolz said.

If you would like to follow Stolz through his Route 66 journey click here.

If you are a conductor and would like to connect with Stolz click here.