The Lee University School of Music will host a Spring Celebration Concert on Saturday, April 17, at 3 p.m. in t he Conn Center on Lee’s campus.

The performance will feature Lee’s Choral Union, Chorale, and Wind Ensemble, directed by Joshua Golden, Dr. William Green, and Dr. David Holsinger, respectively.

This concert will be a celebration of American poetry, prose, and song. The first half will feature Choral Union performing pieces by American composers and text written by American authors and poets, including “The Road Not Taken” and “Choose Something Like A Star” from Randal Thompson’s choral song cycle, Frostiana, and text by Robert Frost. Also included will be American folksongs, spirituals, and a choral medley from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.”

The second half will feature the “Masterwork” for the event. Randal Thompson’s “Testament of Freedom” is a 4-movement work for chorus and wind ensemble. Thompson uses texts written by Thomas Jefferson, both just before and after the Revolutionary War. The piece was composed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth and was premiered in 1943 in the midst of World War II. The first performance was broadcast worldwide on the United States Armed Forces Radio Network.

“This year’s Spring Celebration Concert promises to be an exciting afternoon filled with enjoyable, accessible music that is sure to capture the ear and spirit of all ages,” said Golden. “This concert highlights the drive, spirit, momentum, and excitement that makes American classical music wonderful!”

Lee University Choral Union is a blend of both music and non-music major s, and it specializes in choral music and major masterworks.

Lee University Chorale is an ensemble of vocalists who are selected by audition. An emphasis is placed on the diversity and breadth of traditional choral literature, and Chorale has been featured in performances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe.

The Lee University Wind Ensemble is committed to the highest level of performance of instrumental ensemble literature for winds and percu ssion. It is a non-travelling ensemble that performs for special concerts on Lee’s campus throughout the year.

This event is free and open to the public, but due to limited seating, tickets are required and can be reserved at showclix.com/event/a-spring-celebration-masterworks-.

For more information, contact the School of Music at (423) 614-8240, email [email protected], or visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/music/.