Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: The Verge

The sounds of modern orchestral masterpieces boom through the Dvorak Music Hall as Robert Rossi conducts the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. (Cari Wafford/The Daily Eastern News)

As new bands sprout up, and even more concerts sprout up to grab audiences' attention, the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles continue to help people remember its musical roots.

The latest concert, A Musical Journey Through Time, is no exception.

Starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center, the concert will demonstrate different periods in musical composition history from medieval to baroque and even more contemporary selections.

Selections include movements from Handel's "Messiah," Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" and Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" in B-flat minor op. 23.

One particular selection, Elgar's "Nimrod" from the "Enigma Variations," was selected in memory of Rhonda Heath, a long employed secretary of the EIU Department of Music who recently died after a long battle with breast cancer.

"(Elgar) wrote this piece for his very, very close friend and is probably the most beautiful variation in the work. And so we're dedicating it to Rhonda," said Richard Rossi, director of orchestral and choral activities and conductor of the concert.

Derek Maninfior, a freshman piano performance major, will perform Tchaikovsky's concerto.

Maninfior won the Eastern Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition last year and says that he feels confident about his upcoming performance.

"I've been practicing this piece since September, and I've given many performances of it...I feel pretty comfortable with it," Maninfior said.

There will be over 200 performers with performing groups including the Community Chorus, The University Mixed Chorus, Oratorio Chorus and others.

"A Musical Journey Through Time is one of our largest concerts," Rossi said.

Still, performers have to be ready or they run the risk of getting cut from the concert.

"I'm not going to have kids going out there to do a bad job," Rossi said.

The Camerata Singers, who specialize in Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods of music, will be performing "Gregorian Chants," which is something unique to this year's concerts.

April Lee, a graduate student, will be conducting "Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs" from Handel's "Messiah" in addition to doing a soprano solo in Mozart's "Laudate Dominum."

"It's one of the most important and exciting concerts I've done. The number of ensembles (Rossi) is using, getting to conduct the orchestra, it's all exciting," said Lee.

The Charleston Area Charitable Foundation in addition to the EIU Department of Music and others sponsors the concert.

Tickets for the concert are available at $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students.

Seating is reserved and parking is free.

For more information or to buy tickets call 581-3110 or email doudnattix@eiu.edu.

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