Classical music has long been a part of our state. It goes beyond Dvorak's summer visit to Spillville!"Music institutions and venues Iowa is also home to the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Cedar Rapids Opera, Orchestra Iowa (Cedar Rapids), Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, and the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra."The three major University music institutions in Iowa include the Iowa State University School of Music in Ames, University of Iowa School of Music in Iowa City, and The University of Northern Iowa School of Music in Cedar Falls. Other colleges with music programs include Wartburg, Luther, Cornell, Morningside, and Drake, among others. Also, there is the Celtic Music Association of Des Moines. Major venues include the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines."The Nordic Choir at Luther College in Decorah has performed around the world, appearing in Norway, England, Germany, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Baltic countries, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Nordic Choir has also appeared throughout the United States, performing in well-known concert halls as Lincoln Center in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C...."- from the Wikipedia entry, Music of IowaSo although I have an a classical tune occasionally on a podcast or playlist, I'm happy to finally present an episode fully dedicated to the classical music scene here!Two pieces had to be cut down for space, "Wellington Victory, Symphony" and "Entreat Me Not to Leave You". Full versions of each song can be found on the link below their name.Composer and mezzo-soprano singer Lisa NeherPhotograph by Mike NewmanTRACK LISTING:For more information, click on the link below the track.Cover by Mike Newman(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-cover-by-mike-newman.html)Opening - Iowa Music Showcase theme (classical version) by Jessica Villegas(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/opening-and-closing-iowa-music-showcase.html)Song 1 - "Wellington Victory, Symphony" (truncated) written by Ludwig van Beethoven and performed by Jason Weinberger and the wcf (Waterloo-Cedar Falls) symphony(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-1-wellington-victory.html)Song 2 - "Weihnachten (Frohlocket, ihr Völker, No. 1 of Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79)" written by Felix Mendelssohn and performed by The Wartburg Choir(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-2-weihnachten-frohlocket-ihr.html)Song 3 - "I Will Not Leave You Comfortless" written by William Byrd and performed by The Wartburg Choir(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-2-weihnachten-frohlocket-ihr.html)Song 4 - "Siren (Waterhouse)" written by Randy Wells and performed by Mariya Akhadjanova(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-4-siren-waterhouse-written.html)Song 5 - "Snapshots Song Cycle": "Crocodiles"/"Rain"/"Sneaky Squirrels"/"A Simple Request"/"Turtle Fence"/"Tuesday and Thursday"/"Spoiler Alert!" written by Lisa Neher and performed by Olivia Betzen and Nate Salazar(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-5-snapshots-song-cycle.html)Song 6 - "Polymetric Phrygian Plainchant" written and performed by Paul Hertz(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-6-polymetric-phrygian.html)Song 7 - "Entreat Me Not to Leave You" (truncated) written by Dan Forest and performed by Luther College Nordic Choir(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep-48-song-7-entreat-me-not-to-leave.html)Closing - Iowa Music Showcase theme (classical version) by Jessica Villegas(http://iowamusicshowcasesongs.blogspot.com/2017/06/opening-and-closing-iowa-music-showcase.html)All song are copyrighted by the performers and composers, and used by their kind permission.