The Georgia Southern University Symphony will feature Anna Thibeault in its debut performance of the 2012-2013 season with a diverse, challenging set of pieces.

The concert, which is Thibeault’s first performance at GSU in five years, will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. The event is free to the public.

The Classical, Romantic and Modern period will all be represented in the performance.

“We will be performing a broad range of pieces from Mozart to Kennan.” Josh Crowe, assistant concertmaster and violin performance major, said.

The group is better than last year, with more challenging works, Adrian Gnam, conductor of the GSU Symphony, said.

The all-student ensemble will be playing Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture Op. 62, Mozart’s Symphony No. 1 in E-flat Major, Schubert’s “unfinished” Symphony No. 8 in B minor and Kennan’s Night Soliloquy.

Guest soloist Anna Thibeault, professor of flute at GSU, has performed with many professional ensembles over the years, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the English Symphony Orchestra.

Thibeault will join the symphony on Kent Kennan’s Night Soliloquy, which she called a “short mood piece.”

“I think students will be pleasantly surprised that a group of Georgia Southern students play so beautifully together,” Thibeault said.

With pieces ranging from three-quarters of a century to two and a half centuries old, each is a timeless classic and has entertained a variety of audience.

GSU students in attendance will have the opportunity to support their fellow classmates as well as expose themselves to a traditional style of music.

From his experience, students often enjoyed attending more than they initially thought, Gnam said. The concert provides a way to escape the stress of constant schoolwork and studying for exams.

Gnam has over 50 years of classical music experience. Gnam is a former principal oboist of the Cleveland orchestra and the American symphony and conductor of numerous orchestras in the United States as well as Europe, Asia and South America.  He has conducted the GSU Symphony for the last four years.