Musical selections to enhance Founders' Day

By Meredith Mescher

The Founders' Day Prelude Concert will showcase some of MSU's most talented musicians in honor of Founders' Day and the inauguration of Lou Anna Kimsey Simon as the university's 20th president.

The concert will be held at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Wharton Center.

The MSU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gregorian, professor of music, will play a selection of works from around the world, beginning with the Overture to “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein.

“This is an international university, so we wanted the music to represent different countries,” Gregorian said. “We're also honoring the first woman to be elected president, and we're proud that people will get the chance to hear such an outstanding orchestra.”

The orchestra will also perform works by composers that include Emmanuel Chabrier, Johann and Josef Strauss and Maurice Ravel.

The MSU Symphony Brass and Percussion will perform a piece by Aaron Copland.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” will be sung by Matthew Tuell, soloist and MSU senior, which will be followed by a performance by MSU Jazz Band 1. The band is conducted by Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies, who will receive a Teacher-Scholar Award at the Founders' Day Celebration.

“This is a great opportunity for students to be involved with the inauguration of the president,” Whitaker said. “It's an honor and a privilege.”

The Jazz Band will perform a musical interlude of “Milestones” by Miles Davis.

“‘Milestones' was chosen because this occasion is a milestone,” Whitaker said. “It's a milestone in Dr. Simon's career and also to have a woman elected president of the university.”

Tuell will perform “MSU Shadows” and the concert will conclude with “Marche solenelle du couronnement” by Tchaikovsky.

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