Choral-orchestral concert to conclude River Campus Symphony Series

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, University Choir and Choral Union will present “Lux Aeterna,” which is Latin for “Eternal Light,” as their last performance of the spring semester.

Morten Lauridsen’s composition was only written about 10 years ago. Dr. Sara Edgerton, conductor of the Symphony Orchestra, said this performance was decided because the fall semester was focused on Baroque-era music, while the spring semester moved to the 21st century. She added “Lux Aeterna” also is one of the most performed, and it is choral, meaning for voice and instrumental.

“Lux Aeterna” will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 26 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.

Winners from the Rising Star Competition also will perform. Edgerton organized this competition as a way to bring high-school students to Southeast.

Julie Holzen, a cellist, won the pre-college competition.

Evan Watkins, winner of the Concerto and Aria Competition, practices in a piano lesson with Dr. Kevin Hampton, chair of Southeast's Department of Music. Submitted photo

Evan Watkins, a pianist, is set to perform in “Lux Aeterna” as well. He won this year’s Concerto and Aria Competition.

The program will open with a world-premiere piece, “Dangerously Slick,” written for the orchestra by Dr. Robert Fruehwald, a Southeast professor of composition. His inspiration for this piece came from his trip to southern California. He brings back fanfares, a designation for a short, prominent tune for brass instruments in an orchestral composition, and ends with a fugal section of complex rhythms.

After the opening, Watkins will perform Edvard Grieg’s famous “Piano Concerto in A Minor.”

“The pieces are very accessible, they’re short,” Edgerton said. “You’ve got young students playing these wonderful pieces.”

The orchestra, as a class, does two to three performances a year.

The final performance will contain more than a hundred musicians on the stage. This will be the first live-stream broadcast for those who cannot make the performance as well. Although, Edgerton encouraged locals to attend the concert if they are able.

“If you live in town, you should come to the concert because live music is best,” Edgerton said.

“This would turn out to be a nice evening for a family to come to a fun and easy-going concert,” Edgerton said.

General admission tickets are $16 or $19, dependent upon seating, and $3 for students on presentation of a valid Southeast ID. Tickets can be purchased at the River Campus Box Office, by calling (573) 651-2265 or online at RiverCampusEvents.com.