Ithaca College will welcome the public to its annual Commencement Eve Concert this weekend, featuring performances by student musicians, vocalists and ensembles ahead of the college’s 131st commencement ceremony.
The concert, themed “Together We Rise,” is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, inside Glazer Arena at the Athletics and Events Center. The event is free and open to the public and will conclude with a fireworks display.
This year’s program will feature performances by the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Jazz Ensemble, along with the Meteor Quintet and senior student soloists Julia Wolff, Kaden Hawkins and Noah Schuster.
The concert will be directed by Mike Titlebaum, director of jazz studies and professor of music performance at Ithaca College.
According to the college, the performance will include selections ranging from Jacob Collier’s “World O World” and the West African folk tale “Anansi the Spider” to music from “West Side Story” and “Company.” Audience favorites “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “Rainbow Connection” are also part of the lineup.
Organizers said the evening will conclude with the traditional performance of the college alma mater, “Ithaca Forever.”
College officials also announced that the previously held public dress rehearsal on Friday night will no longer be open to the community, with organizers instead encouraging residents to attend the full Saturday concert and fireworks event.
Ithaca College’s 131st commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, May 17, at Glazer Arena.
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