Music students in the Tulip City will hold their first concerts of the year this evening.

Pella Orchestra Instructor Montana Crawford says tonight’s event is themed: Together, and will feature Pella Community School District students 7-12.

“We are performing works by Black composers Scott Joplin, and Duke Ellington along with a few Jazz tunes in the high school to show the importance of Black composers’ in classical music. In the last few weeks, students worked on a project where they researched and presented a slideshow on a Black composer of their choosing who changed the course of classical music history. Other pieces that will be performed include music from La La Land and Amazing Grace.”

Performances take place at 7:30 tonight in the Pella High School auditorium. The event will also be livestreamed on the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel.

Pella Christian High School is hosting a concert this evening as well, but the fall event will be much different this year. The band will be performing outdoors at the football stadium at 6:30. Cantabile will sing in the gym at 7:15, followed by the Concert Choir at 7:45 in the gym.