WSU music fest begins today

Washington State University’s School of Music is hosting its annual Festival of Contemporary Art Music and its inaugural American Choral Music Festival starting today.

Eric Whitacre is the featured composer for this year’s Festival of Contemporary Art Music. He was nominated for a Grammy last year in Best Choral Music Performance for his a cappella collection “Cloudburst and Other Choral Works.”

The festival begins today with a recital of new student compositions at 11:10 a.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall on the Pullman campus.

A faculty composer concert featuring works by Charles Argersinger, Ryan Hare and Gregory Yasinitsky will be performed tonight at 8 in Bryan Hall Auditorium.

Whitacre will conduct a program featuring his choral works in a concert with the WSU Concert Choir, WSU Madrigal Singers, University of Idaho Vandaleers, UI University Chorus and WSU Wind Symphony on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall Auditorium.

The American Choral Music Festival includes the WSU Concert Choir performance of a new piece by Argersinger at tonight’s concert, and an American Choral Music concert Saturday at 3 p.m. in Bryan Hall Auditorium.

All events are free and open to the public.