When MBU’s Fine Arts Division presents “Song of Songs,” it will mark the first time the musical composition has been performed in the United States.

MBU’s Chamber Singers and String Ensemble will perform the US Premiere Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Pillsbury Chapel and Dale Williams Fine Arts Center.

The concert is free to the public, and no tickets are required.

“Song of Songs” is a six-movement cycle of choral works, based from the Biblical book, Song of Solomon. The music is written by English composer, Patrick Hawes and the texts are paraphrases by Anglican vicar, Andrew Hawes.

MBU alumna Becky (Self) Thorn has been selected as the performance’s featured soprano. The concert will also include “Dark Night of the Soul” by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo. The piece continues in the “Song of Songs” style with the poetry of St. John of the Cross, a medieval mystic poet and monk. The MBU String Ensemble will perform additional works throughout the evening.

Missouri Baptist University is a Christ-centered university located in Saint Louis. MBU offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees in education, business and religion and its new terminal degree, the Doctor of Education. In addition to its 66-acre West St. Louis County campus, MBU offers degree programs at 10 regional learning centers throughout Saint Louis, in Southern Illinois and online. For more information, go to www.mobap.edu<https://www.mobap.edu/> or call 1-877-434-1115.