The concert set for 7 p.m. in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University will feature the world premiere of “Pagan Holiday,” a Centennial Commission composed by Sean Neukom, an MSU graduate, Devils Lake native and former member of the Minot Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Commissioned especially for the 100th season, this work reflects the orchestra’s commitment to honoring its past while shaping the future of symphonic music. The commission was funded by the Minot Area Community Foundation’s Chuck and Madge Westlie Fund and the Edna Solheim Fund.

In addition, the MSO welcomes internationally renowned pianist Frederic Chiu to perform Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No. 3,” one of the most dazzling and virtuosic works in the piano repertoire. Chiu’s performances have been praised worldwide for their brilliance, sensitivity and artistic insight.

The program also includes Sibelius’s beloved “Karelia Suite,” known for its sweeping melodies and Nordic spirit.

“We are thrilled to share this historic moment with our community,” said Ellen Fenner, executive director, in a news release. “From honoring our alumni to welcoming a world-class soloist, this program represents everything the Minot Symphony stands for — excellence, tradition and connection.”

Frederic Chiu, an internationally renowned pianist, will perform with the Minot Symphony Orchestra Oct. 4.

Musicology, the study of music, will begin one hour before the concert starts. Concert-goers are encouraged to attend the 30-minute overview of the works being performed, the story behind the music, the composer and historical context. The talk is free with a concert ticket.

In conjunction with the concert, the MSO will host a community food drive with the Donation Station, a mobile food collection trailer provided by the Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF). All food collected will benefit The Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry, helping provide meals for local families in need. As part of MACF’s 8th Annual Donation Station Challenge Grant, every pound of food collected will be matched with a $1 donation to the pantry through the Arnold I. Besserud Fund. The pantry’s “Top-5” food needs include canned meats, peanut butter and jelly, canned vegetables, canned fruits (in juice, not syrup), nutritional cereal, and macaroni and cheese. Items can be dropped off in front of the hall in the Donation Station trailer.

The Minot Symphony Orchestra is a blend of student, community, and professional musicians from the Minot area. The symphony is directed by Maestro Efraín Amaya, associate professor of Performing Arts at MSU.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.