“When I think of home, several places come to mind. I first think of the place where I grew up, my alma mater, the place where I work, and the places where I have spent a great deal of time,” says Derrick Thompson, Kutztown University (KU) Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies.

“The KU Choirs Fall concert, ‘Finding Home,’ offers the audience an opportunity to reflect, through beautiful choral music, on what home means to them.”

“Finding Home,” Kutztown University Choral Program, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown University, Kutztown.

Says Thompson:

“Over the past year, I have had several reminders and situations that have called me back home. This concert is set to be a representation of what reminds us of home, what we call home, how we search for home, and how we define home.”

The KU Choral Program includes the treble voice ensemble CIRCA, tenor and bass voices of the Troubadours, the advanced-level chamber choir Vocal Ensemble, Chamber Singers and the University Choir.

The concert opens with CIRCA’s performance of Jenni Brandon’s “We are Home,” David Chiles’ “Super flumina Babylonis” and Ysaÿe Barnwell’s “Wanting Memories.”

The Troubadours follow with works by Joseph Martin, Alice Parker, Robert Shaw and Wiliam Dawson.

Student assistant director Jared Rollman conducts the Vocal Ensemble in Joseph Martin’s arrangement of the spiritual “Calling My Children Home,” followed by additional selections.

The Chamber Singers begin their segment with Tomás Luis de Victoria’s 1572 motet “O Quam Gloriosum,” a setting of the “Magnificat Antiphon for Second Vespers of All Saints (November 1st),” and music by Stephen Paulus, Stacey Gibbs and Jacob Collier.

The University Choir closes the concert with works by Johann Michael Haydn, contemporary composer Eric Whitacre, Andrew Steffen and arrangements by Garrett Breese and Josephine Poelinitz.

“Each piece brings a different connection to home,” says Thompson, adding, “Whether through the text, the accompanying instrumentation or the melodic material, the audience and choir are asked to make their own connections and meaning for each piece. What does home mean to you?”

“Finding Home,” Kutztown University Choral Program, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown University, 15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown. Free; Tickets not required. Information: https://www.kutztown.edu/

“This will be the Allentown Band’s 22nd ‘Salute the Troops’ concert sponsored by Bethlehem’s Morning Star Rotary Club benefiting the Victory House of the Lehigh Valley,” says Ronald Demkee, Allentown Band Conductor.

Allentown Band presents “Salute the Troops,” 3 p.m. Nov. 3, Northeast Middle School. Bethlehem.

“In addition to honoring those who serve, and veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, we provide the opportunity for members of the Northeast Middle School Band and Singers to participate side by side with Allentown Band musicians in two patriotic selections,” Demkee says.

The program opens with the “Star Spangled Banner” (1814) with words written by Francis Scott Key as he watched the 25-hour British naval bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 and was inspired to see the American flag still flying over the fort the next day. English composer John Stafford Smith provided the music based on the well-known 18th century song “The Anacreontic Song.”

John Williams’ “Midway March” celebrates the United States’ World War II victory over Japan in the Battle of Midway which occurred around Midway Atoll in the Central Pacific Ocean, about 1,300 miles northwest of Oahu, Hawaii.

The surprise military attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, became known as the “Day of Infamy,” coined by then U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

A video of Roosevelt’s speech will be shown followed by a performance of the Richard Rodgers, Robert Russell Bennett arrangement “Selections from Victory at Sea,” and John Philip Sousa’s “Anchor and Star for the Navy.”

The concert’s first-half closes with commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a video and selections “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.”

After intermission, members of the Northeast Middle School Band join in presenting “United We Stand,” followed by the Allentown Band tribute to the American soldier with the works, “Concord Overture,” “American Salute,” “Star Spangled Spectacular,” “The Homefront: Musical Memories of WWII” and “Armed Services Salute.”

Members of the Northeast Middle School Select Chorus join the band for the finale, John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“Salute the Troops,” Allentown Band, 3 p.m. Nov. 3, Northeast Middle School, 1170 Fernwood St., Bethlehem. Tickets at the door. Information: https://allentownband.com/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com