Students to Present Original Compositions in Concert

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — As part of its New Music Series, Illinois Wesleyan University students in the School of Music will present their original works in concert on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. in Presser Hall’s Westbrook Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature a choral piece written by music composition major Lauren Schaff ’22, titled “April Aubade.” Set to a Sylvia Plath poem of the same title, the lyrics of the piece depict a sunrise over a peaceful meadow in the springtime. “April Aubade” is Schaff’s first written piece for choir and first completed composition as an IWU student. The piece will be performed by 20 students in the School of Music at the concert.

Vocal performance major Andrew Johnson ’20 will also showcase his first composition at IWU, titled "Processional.” Johnson, who wrote the piano solo during his senior year of high school and first premiered it as a musical offering at church, is “thrilled to perform this piece” at IWU. The piece has three distinct sections, each exploring a different view of God. The first section is a festive and joyful praise to God, followed by awe and wonder of God's work and creation, and then fear of God, ultimately ending with a return to the opening festive theme.

By Vi Kakares ’20