The Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts, the Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School, and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities will present a gala concert and awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in Akin Auditorium to celebrate MSU Texas student research and creative accomplishments.

The gala concert will include the recently revived University Orchestra, which was on hiatus from 1971 to 2017. "In 2017, after discussions within the Music Department, the orchestra was revived, filling the need for our majors to experience the traditional literature of a symphony orchestra," said Dr. Matthew Luttrell, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at MSU Texas. "The orchestra is a necessity for MSU because it helps to close a gap in the curricular and musical offerings needed for our majors and the student body at large."

For the gala concert, the University Orchestra and University Wind Ensemble will perform what many consider some of the best literature that both ensembles have to offer, including the music of Richard Strauss, Malcolm Arnold, Percy Grainger, and Edward Elgar.

The concert also will feature one of the cornerstone pieces of Romantic music, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by Dr. Martin Camacho, Dean of the Fain College of Fine Arts. "This piano concerto is one of the most beautiful pieces written for the repertoire, it is full of expression and longing, and I am sure that attendees will recognize and enjoy it," Camacho said.

During the intermission of the concert, MSU Texas students from various disciplines will be recognized for their achievements in research and creative endeavors. MSU has developed an undergraduate research culture over past years, and current projects will be presented publicly to the MSU community April 24-25 in Clark Student Center. "The annual Celebration of Scholarship showcases MSU Texas student and faculty research," said Dr. Kathy Zuckweiler, Dean of the McAda Graduate School. "This year's celebration features nearly 100 presentations that highlight the breadth and depth of scholarly and creative inquiry undertaken at the university.

The event is free and open to the public.