Internationally recognized composer Gwyneth Walker has much to share with students of voice and composition.

Walker will be at Wichita State University Sunday, Feb. 22-Tuesday, Feb. 24, to present a series of master classes, workshops and to introduce two concerts featuring her music for voice.

The WSU choral department will present two different concerts at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.

The concerts will feature the WSU A Cappella Choir, Women’s Choir, Chamber Singers and Madrigal Singers, in addition to several guest choirs.

The Monday concert will focus on Walker’s music for small ensembles. In addition to the WSU Women’s Choir, Chamber and Madrigal Singers, guest choirs from Campus High School and Andover Central High School will share music written in the past 25 years by the guest composer.

The Tuesday concert will showcase Walker’s compositions for large choirs as presented by the WSU A Cappella Choir and guest groups from Maize High School and Emporia High School.

In addition to the choral work, a few selected soloists will be featured on the programs to share some of the delightful repertoire Walker has done for the solo voice. Several WSU faculty musicians will take part, too, including Paul Smith, tenor; Deborah Baxter, mezzo soprano; and Phil Black, tuba.

During both concerts, Walker will share her inspiration for the various compositions as well as provide insights for the listener about the nature of her work.

As Walker notes in her 2004 essay titled “Advice for Young Composers”:

“Perhaps courage should be considered the foremost trait needed by a composer. Courage to create. Courage to put one’s music out for public viewing/listening. Courage to speak the truth of one’s thoughts and feelings. Courage to perhaps be misunderstood by the community at large. This is why writing music for others is strengthening. For, although there may be difficult and frightening moments, the gratification of creating something of beauty, which is shared and valued, outweighs the negative aspects.”