By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

Classical music enthusiasts have something to be excited about, as the Ad Astra Music Festival is returning this weekend to Russell and Ellis counties.

The first performance starts at 7:3o p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 221 N. Maple, Russell, and is titled “Handel’s Jephtha.” In the performance, the Ad Astra Chamber Choir and Festival Orchestra retells George Frideric Handel’s dramatic oratorio based on the story of Jepetha in Judges.

A second performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall, Hays.

Between those performances, there will be a production of Josquin des Prez’s “Missa de Beata Virgine” during mass on Sunday, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave. in Victoria.

Missa de Beata Virgine is a musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass composed around 1510, and was the most popular of Prez’s masses in the 16th century. 

Like all Masses at the Basilica, this Mass is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Performances include classical artists from Boston, New York, and Bogota, Colombia.

The festival will feature classical music directed and conducted by Alex Underwood, a native of Russell.

Underwood earned his undergraduate degree from Sterling College in music education and voice performance before serving as the vocal music teacher at Ruppenthal Middle School and Russell High School from 2008 to 2012. He then went on to earn his Masters of Music in Choral Conducting degree at Westminster Choir College in 2014, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Choral Conducting.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at their website or at the door.

For more information on the festival, a calendar of events or to see profiles of the artists, visit the festival’s website HERE.