The University of Northern Iowa’s School of Music is hosting a Student Composers Concert showcasing the work of students on Nov. 18. The event will be held at 6 p.m. in Davis Hall in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.

“We would like to invite everyone from all across campus to come out and support these hard-working students. Students will enjoy the homegrown music written by their peers,” said Jonathan Schwabe, a UNI professor of music theory and composition.

The concert will feature pieces by student composers that will span a wide array of musical styles and instruments — including a string trio; a string quartet; a piece for a piano, bass clarinet and viola; brass quartets, an electronic and video piece, and many others.

Works by UNI music students William Beyer, Collin Braley, Michael Conrad, Aaron Hynds, Nicholas McGrath, Larry Reed and Kevin Whiteman will be performed. Each student was personally instructed either by Schwabe or by Alan Schmitz, professor of music theory and composition.

“These students are among those few who find the art of composing music to be both challenging and rewarding,” Schmitz said. “It’s challenging to create new music and new sounds. It’s rewarding to finally get to hear the ideas and new pieces these young artists have created.”

Aaron Hynds, a senior music major, will be performing his composition, “Supermassive,” for solo tuba and multimedia. The piece was originally written for the solo tuba, but Hynds also created a video work to accompany the piece. Additionally, there is an electronic music track, sampled from a live performance by Reeperbahn, an ambient music group consisting of Hynds and his brother, Danny. “Supermassive” is intended to be a relaxing, introspective piece, and is also indebted to the work of composers Brian Eno and Ingram Marshall.

“The Student Composer’s Concert is a great way to hear some new music, and from what I can tell, there will be a lot of variety in Thursday night’s program,” Hynds said.

Another featured composer will be William Beyer, a double major in composition and theory and instrumental mass education with an emphasis in saxophone and piano. Beyer, also UNI’s carillonneur, will be presenting a work entitled, “Elegy for a Fallen Relationship.” The piece features the piano, bass clarinet and viola. The piece assimilates extended piano techniques and 20th century music compositional organization.