The 2014 “Explore the Sound” theme is Of Spirits and Places

North Central College hosts the sixth annual “Explore the Sound” concert series with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20 and 21, in the College’s Wentz Concert Hall.

The concert features some 130 choral and instrumental musicians in a seamlessly staged, theatrically lit performance from every part of Wentz Concert Hall. The performers include the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Chamber Singers, Woodwind Quintet and Chamber String Ensemble with piano, string and jazz solos or small groups.

The theme of this year’s concert, “Of Spirits and Places,” features music in a variety of languages—Balinese, German, Kalkadoon, Latin and English. The program consists of sacred, secular, jazz and pop music and student compositions or arrangements. All the musicians will join in a final piece, “Hope for Resolution,” which celebrates the theme in the context of Black History Month and the legacy of Nelson Mandela.

“Explore the Sound” is part of the College’s “Sounds of New Music Festival” with compositions that range from Mendelssohn and Telemann to contemporary composers Eric Barnum and Paul Caldwell. Recognizable jazz standards and a pop piece by New Zealand artist Lorde will be featured alongside student compositions. The festival concludes Saturday with a performance by The Fonema Consort.

For tickets call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.