50 Forward: Beethoven’s Ninth Revisited

The program will feature the works:

• Inspiration! — Festive Overture by Quinn Mason
• blue cathedral by Jennifer Higdon
• Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony features the Penn State School of Music choirs. Musicians will be prepared by Christopher Kiver—director of choral activities, professor of music, and conductor of Concert Choir, Glee Club, and University Choir—in collaboration with choral colleagues Austin Norrid (Essence of Joy), Eva George (Vocal Dimensions), and Emily Homan Wertz (Oriana Singers).

Featured alumni soloists for the Beethoven piece will feature some of Penn State School of Music’s most accomplished and successful professional vocalists, including Julia Wolcott, soprano; Lisa Marie Rogali, alto/mezzo-soprano; Kyle Tomlin, tenor; Michael Hanley, bass.

The orchestra will perform under the baton of Maestro Gerardo Edelstein, who will be celebrating a milestone anniversary! At the concert we will honor Maestro Edelstein for twenty-five years of outstanding conducting, teaching, and mentoring the next generation of conductors at Penn State School of Music.

Pre-concert benefit reception

5:30 p.m. Friday, April 25
Verne M. Willaman Gateway of the Life Sciences, Huck Life Sciences Building
Ticket package featuring a pre-concert benefit reception and the performance: $200

We are thrilled to invite you to a special pre-concert benefit reception at the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State. This volunteer-organized event will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, followed by a captivating music performance. The benefit reception will feature a delectable buffet of hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, as well as an opportunity to celebrate your “best of” moments from fifty years of Eisenhower Auditorium.

Your attendance and support will directly contribute to the enhancement of student engagement and success. By purchasing a ticket package, you are helping to provide invaluable opportunities for Penn State students to experience, learn, and grow through the arts—whether through work on stage, backstage, in their coursework, or in their evenings on campus. As we celebrate fifty years of live arts events in this building, consider a ticket package as a way to pay forward the impact this space has had in your life.

At the Center for the Performing Arts, we are dedicated to creating enriching experiences that inspire and empower the next generation of leaders and innovators. Your generous contributions enable:

• Community building: Help us foster a vibrant arts community on campus where students can connect, collaborate, and express themselves.
• Support of student success: Support workshops, masterclasses, and artist residencies that offer students hands-on learning opportunities with renowned artists.

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of Penn State students. We look forward to celebrating with you and sharing an unforgettable evening of music and inspiration.