Trio of concerts March 26-31 include returns to Monmouth's campus by Moschenross, Burnham
Monmouth, Ill. (03/20/2026) — March will go out on a musical note at Monmouth College, as three concerts will be staged from March 26-31. The concerts featuring the returns to campus by David Burnham and Ian Moschenross will be held in the Kasch Performance Hall of Dahl Chapel and Auditorium, while the other will be held off campus at First United Methodist Church, 221 East Broadway.
Broadway's Burnham is back
Up first is the third of four concerts in this year's Maple Leaf Community Concert Series, which will be presented at 7 p.m. March 26. Burnham will return to the Maple City to perform Broadway hits and beyond.
"He's back by popular demand," said MLCCS organizer Stan Jenks. "I think it's been maybe seven or eight years since he was here. David has appeared on Broadway a number of times in several shows. In fact, he just recently finished a program on Moses. He incorporates his show with the audience so well. He just brings the audience in."
Individual concert tickets are $30 per person. Students are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in downtown Monmouth or at the door the night of the concert.
Wind Ensemble goes downtown
Under the direction of Monmouth music professor Justin Swearinger, the Wind Ensemble will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at the First United Methodist Church.
"It's a busy week in Dahl, and we are using more percussion equipment than ever before, so we had to explore a location with a little more space," said Swearinger. "We are excited for this new collaboration opportunity with First United Methodist but will also be happy to be back home in Dahl for our May 2 concert."
The concert will begin with "A Mother of a Revolution" by Omar Thomas, which Swearinger said "is a high-energy nod to disco and the Stonewall Uprising of 1969." The second piece, "Elegy for a Young American" by Ronald Lo Presti, is a meditation and reflection on the death of President John F. Kennedy, written within a year of the tragedy.
The third piece in the first half of the concert is "Into the Silent Land" by Steve Danyew, which Swearinger said "serves as a remembrance of the children and educators whose lives were taken in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting." It features narration based on a poem by Christina Rossetti.
"Collectively, these three pieces serve as a dark reminder of important moments in our history," said Swearinger."
After a brief intermission, the second half of the program will feature one piece - "Liberation" by David Maslanka. Utilizing Bach chorale textures as well as plainchant singing, Swearinger said "the piece explores the idea that human beings have the capacity to be our own destruction and judgment day. However, by recognizing and remembering those who have passed, Maslanka presents a piece that ends hopeful - perhaps we can learn from the past and create a better future."
Welcome back, Ian
Moschenross, a former Monmouth professor, will conclude the string of performance with a piano recital at 4 p.m. March 31.
A versatile artist, Moschenross is an active piano soloist, chamber musician and educator, previously holding teaching positions at Grinnell College and Central College in addition to Monmouth. Now at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, he teaches music theory, music history and piano. Apart from teaching and performing, his other musical interests include the life and works of Robert Schumann, non-equal temperament tuning systems, and the literary intertextuality of Bob Dylan lyrics.
Titled "Salut D' Amour," which translates to "greeting of love," the program will open with an 1888 piece by the same name by Elgar. Among the other selections are Liszt's "Petrarch Sonnet 104," Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet Before Parting" and Debussy's "L'isle Joyeuse" (The Joyful Island). Moschenross will also play works by Grieg, Schumann, Kreisler, Rachmaninoff and Strauss.
Moschenross earned a bachelor's degree in music from Hanover College and master's and doctoral degrees in piano performance from the University of Nebraska.
Media Attachments
IAN MOSCHENROSS: Now at Lafayette College, he's a former member of Monmouth's music faculty.
DAVID BURNHAM: “He's back by popular demand,” said MLCCS organizer Stan Jenks. "He incorporates his show with the audience so well. He just brings the audience in.”
Monmouth College
Barry McNamara 309-457-2117, mcnamara@monmouthcollege.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Baseball Falls at Rockford on Friday
- Monmouth alumni sisters Eiserman, Simmons collaborate on children's book 20 years in the making
- Braun, Foglesong, Toth Named Track & Field All-Region
- More March Madness memories: Four Fighting Scots teammates coach squads to state
- Brown Named All-Region First Team
- Baseball Finishes Florida Trip with 3-2 Friday Win
- Upcoming events at Monmouth College
- Softball Ends Florida Trip With Two Losses
- Nationally Ranked Bullets Score Two in Ninth to Beat Scots
- Softball Drops Pair on Wednesday