Live music events set this weekend at the Green Center

The first of two performances this weekend at the Green Center, the DePauw ChoralFest concert on Friday, Oct. 6, will present music by internationally renowned guest composer Z. Randall Stroope. The DePauw University Band and Orchestra Strings concert, on Sunday, Oct. 8, will be led by music faculty members Craig Paré and Orcenith Smith.

Courtesy photo

A panorama of music composed for large ensemble will be presented in two concerts this weekend at the Green Center for the Performing Arts — the closing concert of DePauw ChoralFest at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, and DePauw University Band and Orchestra Strings at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.

Both concerts will be presented in Kresge Auditorium, located on the DePauw University campus.

A full day of Choralfest workshops and master classes will culminate Friday with a public performance by all participating high school and collegiate choirs, led by festival director Eric Schmidt, director of choral activities at DePauw, and by guest composer and conductor Z. Randall Stroope.

Renowned for his exceptional artistry, Stroope has composed more than 200 musical works, conducted 48 all-state choirs and concerts in 26 countries from Carnegie Hall to The Vatican.

After each visiting school has the opportunity to perform one of Stroope’s pieces individually, the combined festival and DePauw University choirs will unite their voices at the end of the concert to present one of the guest composer’s most beloved compositions.

Regular concertgoers should note that an earlier-than-usual 7 p.m. start-time has been set for the Oct. 6 concert to allow the student performers travel time for the return trip to their hometowns. The participating choirs include Cloverdale High School, Columbus East, Greenwood Community High School, Indianapolis Children’s Choir Master Chorale, Lighthouse Christian Academy, Plainfield High School, South Vermillion High School, DePauw Chamber Singers, DePauw Vox Anima and the Putnam County Festival Choir.

On Sunday, Oct. 8, the DePauw University Band and Orchestra Strings then take the Kresge stage to present a joint concert conducted respectively by Craig Paré, director of bands, and Orcenith Smith, director of orchestras.

The University Band opens the program with the celebratory “Fanfare Aureus” by Kimberly Archer, followed by three “Hip Hop Etudes” by Daniel Bernard Roumain; the lush, expressive “October” by Eric Whitacre; and a wind ensemble classic, “Blue Shade” by Frank Ticheli, featuring clarinetists Paige Burgess, Stephanie Haynes and Sarah Locke. Music representing the heart of the string repertoire, performed by students from the DePauw University Orchestra, includes “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Seasons,” and English composer Sir Edward Elgar’s elegant “Serenade for Strings.”

Admission to both Green Center concerts this weekend are free. Tickets may be obtained in advance through the GCPA’s online box office at dpugreencenter.eventbrite.com or in person beginning 60 minutes prior to the performance