Monmouth College to close spring semester with flurry of musical performances
Concerts are scheduled for May 2, May 4 and May 6
Monmouth, Ill. (04/25/2025) — As the spring semester draws to a close, Monmouth College will host a quartet of concerts in the Kasch Performance Hall of Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. All four concerts are free and open to the public.
May 2: Wind Ensemble
The first of the musical events will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 2 when the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of music professor Justin Swearinger, performs. The concert will begin with the Tally-Ho Overture by John Philip Sousa.
"Known more for works like 'The Washington Post March' and 'Stars and Stripes Forever,' Sousa's overture contains all of the drama of a musical or opera while still alluding to his famous march style," said Swearinger. "The ensemble will be premiering a new critical edition of the work, which has been arranged by and will be conducted by recent alumnus Ty Otto '24."
Dedicated to the student musicians graduating this May, the second work, "Does it stretch out its roots" by Danielle Fisher and Tyler Austin, is a short tone poem based on the prose of Rainer Maria Rilke. The first part of the program ends with a medley of music from the action-packed Studio Ghibli movie, Porco Rosso.
"Expect music inspired by WWI aerial combat, tango, French lounge music, German taverns and exploration of self-identity," said Swearinger.
After an intermission, the program will conclude with David Maslanka's Concerto for Marimba and Wind Band. The 20-minute work will feature graduating senior Camille Prentiss of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on solo marimba.
May 4: Chorale, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir
On May 4, there will be a pair of performances. The annual Spring Choral Concert will be presented at 3 p.m. Music professor Tim Pahel will direct the Chorale and Chamber Choir, while Kaitlyn McCullough will direct the Concert Choir. At 7 p.m., Rich Cangro will lead the Monmouth Civic Orchestra.
"There be a lot of wonderful and interesting music," said Pahel of the choral event. "Chorale will perform the world premiere of a piece that we commissioned from the composer David Caldarella, called 'Ode to Life.' We will also perform an extremely challenging, fast and fun song by Eric Whitacre called 'Little Man in a Hurry,' with a virtuoso accompaniment played by Solee Lee-Clark."
The sopranos and altos of Chorale and Concert Choir will combine to sing "Flight," a "gorgeous" song arranged by Ryan Murphy, and the tenors and basses of both groups will perform a "rousing" arrangement of the old American folk hymn "Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal," arranged by Craig Carnahan.
The Chamber Choir will perform music ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary a cappella. A particular highlight is the song "Cells, Planets" by Erika Lloyd and arranged by Vince Peterson, with a solo sung by River Nevel '28 of Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
The concert is free, but donations are welcome.
May 4: Monmouth Civic Orchestra
The Monmouth Civic Orchestra will perform what Cangro called "a wonderful concert of music for our land."
Pieces include "For a Beautiful Land" by Linda Robbins Coleman, "Dusk" by Steven Bryant, "Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld" and a medley of songs from the Sound of Music. Also featured will be a world premiere of "At Willow's Edge" by Jordan Jinosko, featuring Western Illinois University trumpet professor Nicole Gillotti.
May 6; Jazz Ensemble
The final event will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 6, when Steve Jackson leads the college's Jazz Ensemble in a joint concert with the ROWVA High School Jazz Band, directed by Wes Anderson. The performance will feature a wide variety of styles, and the two bands will combine for a lively up-tempo finale. The selections by the Monmouth band will include tunes by Count Basie, Chick Corea and a Motown favorite made famous by The Temptations, in addition to what Jackson called "some other great swingy and funky tunes."
Media Attachments
Monmouth College
Barry McNamara 309-457-2117, mcnamara@monmouthcollege.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Maddie Boley Tuesday - Boley Repeats as MWC Performer of the Week
- Coats Named MWC Pitcher of the Week
- Golfers Compete at Viking Invitational
- Softball Drops Pair at Cornell
- Scots Beat Beloit to Win Series on Sunday
- Tennis Finishes Season with Doubles Consolation Matches
- Baseball Splits With First-Place Beloit on Senior Day
- Scots Pile Up Wins, PRs at Knox Open
- Softball Sweeps Knox With Two Shutouts
- Men's Tennis Completes Singles Play at MWC Tournament