The Barton Performing Arts Department will host its annual “Autumn Arts” sneak preview concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Admission is free.

Performing ensembles will give the audience a sneak preview of what the groups will present this year. Groups who will take the stage include Hilltop Singers, Concert Choir, Prairie Winds Symphony Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Barton Dance Theatre. Dan and Denise Williams will perform a Theatre short titled “Post-its, Notes on a Marriage,” by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman, which is an homage to A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” and brings a modern twist to the stories from married life.

The concert will also include a special performance for the entire second act of the show by Barton Director of Accompaniment Dr. Alejandro Avila with the Prairie Winds Symphony Band, performing George Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” in honor of the hundredth anniversary of this composition.

Avila said “Rhapsody in Blue” ranks high amongst noteworthy compositions in American music.

“It’s a piece that defined the American Jazz Age in 1924 and a perfect fusion between classical and jazz idioms,” he said. “It’s been an influential composition, featured in countless films, TV series, radio, commercials, and concerts across the states and abroad. We’ve worked very hard to put this together in a short amount of time. It’s a special treat for our local community to have a chance to see this performance.”

The Performing Arts Department will also reveal its first set of Hall of Fame inductees, which will be officially inducted at the Holiday Concert on Dec. 5.

For more information, contact Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Foley at (620) 792-9395 or foleye@bartonccc.edu.