Music Concerts from Central College
Pella, IA (10/02/2024) — Central College will host several music performances open to the public.
The Flying Pans Alumni Steel Band will perform Homecoming weekend, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's AeroSteel concert. It will highlight much of the same Aerosmith music performed two decades ago and the current Flying Pans lineup of performers. Stan Dahl, senior lecturer of music, will lead the alumni band at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, Douwstra Auditorium.
Central's music department will welcome eighth- and ninth-grade vocal students from across Iowa for the annual SingFest performance. The public is invited to the culminating concert directed by Mark Babcock, M. Joan Kuyper Farver Endowed Chair in Music, professor of music and 1991 graduate of Central, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, Douwstra Auditorium.
At 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, seventh- and eighth-grade band students from across Iowa will present the BandFest concert, directed by Brad Lampe, lecturer of music, in Douwstra Auditorium.
A Cappella Choir, directed by Babcock, will embark on a mini-tour in Central Iowa with public concerts at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines; 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, Des Moines Art Center; and 4 p.m. Mass at St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines. As part of the tour, the choir will perform at two schools in the Des Moines area.
Central will host the Music Teachers National Association State Competition. Students from across Iowa will compete for the opportunity to advance to the district competition later this year. Pianists, wind instrument players and string instrument players will compete over the course of two days, Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27. The public is welcome to attend the competition.
"We will be using the Fazioli grand piano for the piano competition, an exquisite instrument that was a gift from former Central President David Roe," says Sean Stephenson, assistant professor of music. "This world-class instrument was one of the draws for the MTNA to select Central as the host for the competition."
President David and Betsy Roe donated the piano to honor Betsy's father who was a music teacher. Stephenson says the college is very excited to have it utilized in this competition format.
Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Our students learn collaboratively with supportive educators who share a commitment to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the American Rivers Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
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Central’s music programs offer a variety of concert events for the public in October.