Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana State University School of Music will present a concert featuring works by Franz Josef Haydn and John Rutter 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in Tilson Auditorium.

The program will be a collaborative effort between the Indiana State Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Choir.

"This is the second consecutive year that the orchestra and chorus have worked together on a project," said Scott Buchanan, director of choral activities. "Erik (Rohde, orchestral director) and I both believe that our students should be exposed to these extended works that combine instruments with voices. We want to make these concerts an annual tradition here at ISU."

The concert will feature two works, the first of which will be "Symphony No. 92" in G Major by Joseph Haydn. Although written for an earlier performance in Paris, this work is popularly known as the "Oxford Symphony," as Haydn reportedly conducted it at a ceremony in which he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 1791. Rohde will conduct the work.

The second work will be John Rutter's "Requiem," written for chorus and orchestra. Composed and debuted in 1985, this beautiful work combines parts of the traditional Latin Requiem with added psalm settings in English.

"There are parts of this work that are simply stunning to hear," Buchanan said. "Rutter is known for creating beautiful melodic lines and lush harmonic progressions. Our students are really enjoying the rehearsal process."

Christiana Wittenmyer, a sophomore music education major from Terre Haute, and Holland, Ind., native Katelyn Kendall, also a sophomore majoring in music education, will serve as soloists. Buchanan will conduct this portion of the program.

The concert, part of the Indiana State School of Music's Student Ensemble Series, is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the School of Music at 812-237-2772.