David Wacyk, the director of instrumental ensembles and an assistant teaching professor of music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, directed the UMSL Symphony Orchestra during its performance at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on Oct. 28. It was one of three nights of performances held last week as part of the Department of Music‘s Fall Festival.

The orchestra, along with the University Singers and director Jim Henry, presented the concert titled “Song of Fate,” with works composed by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Jessie Montgomery.

The UMSL Department of Music has more exciting events on the calendar for November. The Scalero Legacy Festival Concert on Nov. 14 celebrates the works of Italian composer Rosario Scalero and two of his distinguished protégés, Gian Carlo Menotti and Luigi Zaninelli. The concert will feature performances of unpublished vocal works, Menotti’s complete song cycles, and chamber works for strings by Scalero and Zaninelli.

The 2025-26 Young Artist Competition will take place on Nov. 21 in the Lee Theater inside the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer Derik Holtmann and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. View more UMSL photos by visiting the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.