The 23-member group, conducted by James W. (Jim) Warner, will open the program with “Allerseelen (All Souls’ Day),” an art song by Richard Strauss, arranged by Albert Oliver Davis.

The ensemble will also perform “Amparito Roca” by Jaime Texidor Dalmau, a composer and conductor who lived most of his life in northern Spain. This piece is dedicated to a girl named Amparito (the diminutive of Amparo) Roca.

Also on the program will be “Cajun Folk Songs II” by Frank Ticheli and “Scootin’ on Hardrock (Three Short Scat-Jazzy Dances),” a musical homage by David Holsinger to Hardrock Road, the former Main Street of a once thriving community close to the railroad line between Dallas and Ft. Worth, Tex.

“One doesn’t mosey down Hardrock Road anymore,” the composer notes. “The only reason to drive there now is to go from somewhere you’ve been to someplace you haven’t. But once upon a time, Hardrock Road was the center of town.”

The concert will conclude with an arrangement of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” a “Salute to Glenn Miller” and “Hymn for a Child (Jesus Loves Me).”

Ensemble members are equally divided between EMU students and the local community.

Warner, who also directs the EMU Jazz ensemble, taught in public schools for 34 years in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, with most of this time as director of bands at Harrisonburg High School. He retired from HHS in July, 2005.

Admission to the concert is free. Donations are welcomed for the EMU student scholarship fund.

The EMU will present a concert of sacred jazz and big band standards 7:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 7 in Lehman Auditorium.

The band, directed by James W. (Jim) Warner, will perform sacred selections including "Softly and Tenderly" arranged by Jeff Anderson and unique arrangements of "Doxology" and "All Creatures of Our God and King" by Aaron Weitekamp.

Big band standards will include "Indiana," arranged by Dave Barduhn, "All The Things You Are," arranged by Lennie Niehaus and "Where Or When," arranged by Gordon Goodwin.

, instructor in voice at EMU, will be featured soloist on several selections.

Warner, who became director of the EMU Jazz ensemble in January 2005, is in his 27th year as director of bands at Harrisonburg High School. In addition to directing symphonic band, concert band, marching band and jazz ensemble, he has developed and implemented an advanced level music theory program dealing with both traditional and jazz harmony, courses in jazz solo improvisation, new programs in music technology for beginning musicians and basic music for limited English proficiency (LEP) students.

Warner earned a bachelor of music education and a master of music degree in trumpet performance from West Virginia University. Following service as a military musician, he began a 34-year career as a public school band director in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia schools. He is a former member of the orchestra.

Admission to the concert is free.

“EMU Jazz,” a big band and vocal ensemble at 草莓社区, will present its 23rd annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 1, in Lehman Auditorium.

The 16-member group, directed by James W. Warner, specializes in jazz arrangements of hymns and spirituals as well as ballad and swing tunes. The program repertoire will range from Mike Tomaro’s “Island Breeze” to Gordon Goodwin’s arrangement of the theme from “Frazier” to “After Hours” by Jeff Benedict to “Amazing Grace,” arranged by Aaron Weitekamp.

Sarah Schlabach will perform as vocalist with the band on “Blue Skies,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” Doug Wandersee will be featured on alto saxophone in “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and Caitlin Miller will be alto saxophone soloist on “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Greg Sachs will be featured trombone soloist on several numbers as will Ben Arnold on tenor saxophone.

Warner, who became director of the in January 2005, is in his 26th year as director of bands at Harrisonburg High School. In addition to directing symphonic band, concert band, marching band and jazz ensemble, he has developed and implemented an advanced level music theory program dealing with both traditional and jazz harmony, courses in jazz solo improvisation, new programs in music technology for beginning musicians and basic music for limited English proficiency (LEP) students.

Warner earned a bachelor of music education and a master of music degree in trumpet performance from West Virginia University. Following service as a military musician, he began a 34-year career as a public school band director in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia schools. He is a former member of the orchestra.

Admission to the program is free; contributions are welcomed for the EMU music student scholarship fund.