The Wye Choral Scholars will present a concert, “America Makes Music”, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the historic Old Wye Church in Wye Mills, MD.

The program draws on vocal music from the whole range of American history, from Charles Wesley and Stephen Foster to Aaron Copeland and Leonard Bernstein, from songs of patriots, immigrants, and African-Americans, to songs of the American musical theatre.

The Wye Choral Scholars are an auditioned ensemble of high school students from the Eastern Shore receiving multi-year professional vocal training from the Wye Conservatory of Music under Director Bonnie Forgacs.

The musical performances at the April 30 concert will be set in their historical contexts by brief oral reports from the Scholars, who have researched and rehearsed the music being presented as their spring project for the Conservatory.

As additional spice for the program, Conservatory Assistant Director Amy Morgan is set to present a keyboard performance of George Gershwin’s stirring Rhapsody in Blue, described by Gershwin himself as “a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America”.

“America Makes Music” will be the fourth and final concert in the Conservatory’s 2010-11 Concert Series. Admission at the door is $15, with age 12 and younger free.

Further information on the concert can be obtained by calling the Wye Parish office at (410) 827-8484; for information on the Conservatory, contact Marie U’Ren at (410) 822-5089 or muren@goeaston.net.