The hour-and-a-half-long show will feature a wide variety of music, showcasing the diverse talents of EMU鈥檚 music department, including the . The show will be sprinkled with smaller performances 鈥� 10 to 15 minutes in length 鈥� complementing two larger numbers, which include a concerto and a choir-led performance.

鈥淭his is a celebratory event,鈥� says , chair of the music department. 鈥淭his is an opportunity for people to come celebrate the arts … and specifically music at EMU.鈥�

Griffing 鈥� who will be conducting the orchestra pieces 鈥� says that the music department鈥檚 isolated location on campus 鈥� the first floor of the Lehman Auditorium building 鈥� causes it to be overlooked. This concert will allow both students and the general community an opportunity to take advantage of a performance that the department has been practicing months to perfect.

Highlights include Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淧iano Concerto No. 4,鈥� which will be performed by new piano faculty member, Dr. ; the performance will also feature the department鈥檚 orchestra.

Additionally, the concert will feature classical music from Gustav Holst and Franz Schubert, along with the Beatles song 鈥淥b-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.鈥�

鈥淧eople come from quite a distance to see this show,鈥� says , who has been a professor at EMU since 1977. 鈥淭his is a significant event for our institution.鈥�

Schubert鈥檚 鈥淢ass in G Major,鈥� will be the largest performance of the night, which will be performed by the 75 member choir and conducted by Nafziger.

鈥淭here will be a wide range of musical styles and musical groups, an eclectic mix of music,鈥� says Griffing. 鈥淭he concert will have something for everybody.鈥�

Donations collected in lieu of admission; suggested price of $10 per person. Proceeds benefit the music scholarship fund.

For more information about the gala concert, contact the EMU Music Department at 540-432-4225.

Courtesy Daily News Record, Nov. 7, 2013

The EMU wind ensemble will combine its talents with the EMU orchestra in performing music from major motion pictures at a Mar. 25 concert. Photo by Lindsey Grosh

The orchestra, conducted by Dr. Joan Griffing, chair of EMU’s music department, will play selections from “West Side Story,” “Schindler’s List” and movements of Beethoven’s “6th Symphony” (the “Pastorale”).

The wind ensemble, conducted by James W. (Jim) Warner, will play “Slavonic Dances” by Elliott Del Borgo and “Odessy” by James Curnow.

The groups will combine to perform music from “Lord of the Rings.”

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

The EMU wind ensemble and EMU orchestra members. Photo by Lindsey Grosh