Deborah Curtis, provost and chief learning officer at the University of Central Missouri, in conjunction with The Performing Arts Series and the Department of Music, will open 2015-2016 performance season as she hosts the annual Provost’s Faculty Showcase, presented by the department of music at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Hart Recital Hall.

Titled “Passion from the Hart,” the featured performers will be Alan Wenger on trumpet, accompanied by Mia Hynes on piano, Sheri Mattson on oboe and Lee Hartman on English horn. Hynes will have a solo performance on piano; Jacob Sentgeorge, tenor, accompanied by Miyeon Choi on  piano; and James Gai on clarinet, accompanied by Hynes.

Also on the program will be performances by Eric Honour on saxophone and computer; mezzo-soprano Kristee Haney and dancers Ashley Miller, Nellie Maple and Claire Bessenbacher, accompanied by Hynes; the string quartet of John Rutland, Steve Wasko, Carrie Turner and Michael Bersin; and the jazz combo of Gary Moege, James Isaac, David Aaberg, John Check and Mike Sekelsky. Rounding out the program will be a performance by Jon Hynes, the newest member of the UCM music faculty, on piano.

This year’s event will again feature visual art from the Faculty Art Exhibit currently on display at UCM’s Gallery of Art and Design. The program will draw parallels between the music performed and the visual art on display.

In addition, the public is invited to attend a free pre-concert presentation titled “Do You Hear What I Hear? An Introductory Note,” at 6:30 p.m. in Utt 100, presented by Lifelong Learning at UCM. Musicologist Allison Robbins will give an explanatory prelude to the music that will be played in the showcase.

The public is invited to attend and admission is free, although advance ticketing is required to assure adequate seating. Free tickets will be available starting Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Office of the Performing Arts in Administration 196, the department of music in Utt 109, the department of theatre in Martin 113 and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in Martin 126.

For more information, contact the UCM Department of Music at 660-543-4530.