The SIU String Orchestra will perform March 17 in Pulliam Hall's Furr Auditorium. (Photo provided)
March 09, 2026
SIU String Orchestra to perform March 17
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University Carbondale String Orchestra will present a free, public concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in Pulliam Hall’s Furr Auditorium.
Under the direction of Rossana Cauti, assistant professor of practice in the SIU School of Music and SIU String Orchestra music director, the program will feature two powerful masterworks of the 20th century: Dmitri Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op. 110a and Leoš Janáček’s Suite for String Orchestra.
The program highlights the artistic growth of SIU’s student musicians, Cauti said.
“The SIU String Orchestra provides students the opportunity to explore some of the most compelling repertoire written for strings,” she said. “This concert invites audiences to experience two distinct musical worlds — the emotional intensity of Shostakovich and the colorful vitality of Janáček — brought to life by our talented performers.”
Media availability
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the concert, which begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in Pulliam Hall’s Furr Auditorium. For more information and to arrange interviews, contact Rossana Cauti, assistant professor of practice in the SIU School of Music and director of the SIU String Orchestra at rossana.cauti@siu.edu or the SIU School of Music at music@siu.edu.
Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony in C minor is an orchestral arrangement by Rudolf Barshai of the composer’s intensely personal String Quartet No. 8. Written in 1960, the work is widely regarded as one of Shostakovich’s most profound and autobiographical compositions, Cauti said.
“Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony is an extraordinary musical testimony,” she said. “Its haunting motives and emotional intensity create a powerful journey through anguish, reflection, and resilience. Even though the music originates from a string quartet, Barshai’s orchestral arrangement expands the expressive depth of the work while preserving its chamber-music intimacy.”
Janáček’s Suite for String Orchestra is a vibrant early work that reflects the composer’s distinctive voice and connection to Moravian musical traditions, Cauti said.
“Janáček’s Suite for Strings offers a fascinating contrast to Shostakovich,” Cauti said. “While the Shostakovich piece is deeply introspective and dramatic, Janáček’s suite highlights rhythmic vitality, lyricism, and a strong sense of national character. Together, these works showcase the expressive range and richness of the string orchestra repertoire.”