Contact: Margaret Kovar
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Mississippi State University Philharmonia presents its fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday [Nov. 13] at Starkville's Greensboro Center Auditorium.
Primarily representing the campus and city communities, the 40-member group will perform selections by Mozart, Handel, Bela Bartok, Paul Geraci--and the British indie rock band Coldplay.
A former MSU music department faculty member, Geraci holds bachelor's degrees in music education and performance from George Mason University, and a master's in composition from Bowling Green State University. His doctorate in theory and composition was completed at Ball State University.
Also as guest composer, Geraci will conduct his composition for strings, "To Reach Beyond Our Fears."
Additionally, guest vocalist Mark Soderquist will join with 16 MSU choir members for Coldplay's soaring "Viva la Vida," which became the No. 1 pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100 of the U.S. and Britain following its 2008 release. Soderquist received his first music degree from the Berklee College of Music and later studied at the New Hampshire Violin Craftsmanship Institute.
A meet-the-composer session and reception will follow the performance.
Founded in 2008 as the MSU String Ensemble by Simona Barbu and currently directed by Richard Human and Shandy Phillips, the philharmonia is the music department's first established orchestra.
For more information about the event, contact the MSU music department at 662-325-3070.