The Friends of the Arts will host a reception immediately following Joan Tower’s concert at the RED NOTE New Music Festival.

Tower, an icon of American music who will be celebrating her 75th birthday this year, is the festival’s guest composer. Her concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in Kemp Recital Hall.

Tower will talk with the crowd at the reception. The catered event is free and open to the public.

The RED NOTE New Musical Festival runs from March 3–7 on the Illinois State University campus. It is free and open to the public.

The opening concert will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in the Center for the Performing Arts, and will feature contemporary wind ensemble works performed by the acclaimed Illinois State University Wind Symphony, conducted by Daniel Belongia. The program will include the winner of this year’s Call for Scores.

The dynamic Chicago-based ensemble Spektral Quartet will be the featured guest artists Monday, March 4, in the Kemp Recital Hall. The group will give a master class to the string studio from 2–4 p.m. at the School of Music, and at 8 p.m. will present a concert of works by Illinois composers. From 1–3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, Spektral Quartet will give a reading of new compositions by student composers at Illinois State.

In addition to her concert, Tower be giving a master class March 5.

The Wednesday, March 6, concert will be held in Kemp Recital Hall and will feature Illinois State students and faculty. The program will include David Kirkland Garners “Forward/Still,” the winning piece in the annual Composition Competition, as well as the winner of the Contemporary Music Competition for Young Performers.

The final concert of the Festival will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the Center for the Performing Arts and will feature contemporary wind ensemble works performed by the Illinois State University Symphonic Band, conducted by Belongia. The program will include the music of Roy D. MagnusonJohn Mackey, and Steve Danyew.

For more information about the festival, call (309) 438-3477.