Enjoy Free Music Fridays this spring at College of DuPage

The College of DuPage Music program presents free musical performances and lectures Fridays this spring at the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

"Music Fridays @ Noon" is a series of one-hour programs featuring the College of DuPage Music program, with free performances and presentations by COD students, faculty, alumni and guests.

The events are held in Room 140 of the McAninch Arts Center.

The Friday program begins Jan. 31 with guest artist Jim Madigan performing "American Songs of Social Justice."

Future events include: guest speaker Lori Sonnenberg, a speech pathologist discussing vocal health for singers and speakers, on Feb. 7; a faculty and guest spotlight "Music of 1969: Anthems of a Generation," with vocalist Deb Zelman, guitarist Jeff Gorski, and bassist Julian Webb, on Feb. 14; guest speaker Donald Fraser on "A Producer/Composer's Perspective" on Feb. 21; and faculty member Matt Shevitz performing the music of Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington on Feb. 28.

In March, the series will continue with a faculty spotlight with Larry Ward on "Bessie Smith & Early Blues Recording" on March 6; a faculty spotlight with Julia Di Liberti on "Young, Gifted, and Black: The Mind Behind the Music of Nina Simone" on March 13; a student recital on March 20; an alumni spotlight with singer and songwriter Louise Kelly on March 27. The three spotlight programs in March will feature women in music, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

There will be no program on April 3 for spring break.

On April 10, the series continues with the College of DuPage Chamber Singers with "A Story of Spirituals." On April 17, there will be a faculty spotlight with Lucille Mok and Steven Havens offering a "Piano Duet through a Spanish Lens." On April 24, the faculty spotlight will feature Lee Kesselman, previewing his "Remember US," a large scale work for choruses and string orchestra based on texts by underrepresented authors from America's past.

In May, there will be student recitals on May 1 and 8.

Visit www.atthemac.org/music-fridays-noon/ for more information and a full "Music Fridays @ Noon" schedule.

For more on "Music Fridays @ Noon," contact Lee Kesselman kesselma@cod.edu.

For more information on COD's Music program, visit www.cod.edu/academics/programs/music/.