The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the Mary M. Danos Theater of Talbot Hall, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. with a special greatting event starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with German conductor Markus Huber who will lead the orchestra in Nielson’s Symphony No. 4 and Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
The performance will also feature guest pianist Stephen Hough from Britain.
Jonathon Wells, marketing and communications associate for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, said this performance is special because it brings together talented musicians who would probably not perform together otherwise.
“This is the first time Stephen Hough and Marcus Huber have performed with the Louisiana Philarmonic Orchestra, so it’s unique in that right,” Wells said. “We’re happy to have this group together for the performance.”
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra was formed in 1991 and is the only musician-owned and operated orchestra in the United Stated with a full orchestra, staff and volunteers.
The Louisana Philharmonic Orchestra is the only full-time professional orchestra in the Gulf South. With performances throughout the year.
Hough, a world-renowned pianist, was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2001 and in 2008 he received the Northwestern University School of Music’s Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance.
Recently, Hough also won the 2010 Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award.
Hough has appeared with a majority of American and European orchestras and recitals including London, Paris, Madrid, Hong Kong, Sydney and with the Los Angeles and Czech Philharmonics, the Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Boston, St. Louis, Toronto and Atlanta symphonies, the Cleveland, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Russian National Orchestras.
Hough is also a writer and composer who has written for The Guardian and The Times.
Hough is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and holds the International Chair of Piano Studies at his alma mater, the Royal Northern College in Manchester.
Since 2008, Huber has been the music director of Opera Pforzheim.
Huber took the stand at many orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and others.
Wells said he believes the performance at Nicholls is a result of Carlos Miguel Prieto, LPO music director, and his desire to expand performances around the state.
“I think it comes down to Carlos Miguel Prieto wanting to branch out and expand around all of Louisiana,” Wells said. “He is a world-renowned and very popular conductor. so I think this is a way to improve it.”
This year marked Prieto’s fifth season as music director of the Louisiana Philharmonic.
In addition to concerts with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Mexico and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, Prieto worked with orchestras in the United States, Canada and Germany.
At 6:30 p.m., one hour before the performance, there will also be a Q&A with the conductor and pianist in the Nicholls choir room,  where they will talk about the history of the music and types of music included in the performance and open the floor for questions.
Wells said this period is designed to inform the audience but also take comments.
“It’s usually about 45 minutes before the concert and what Maestro Prieto does is talk about the composers and the music,” Wells said. “Sometimes people ask questions or make comments, but it’s always very well received.”
Carol Britt, director of the department of music, said the University is simply hosting which she believes is partially a result of Nicholls becoming an All-Steinway School last year.
“This is the Lousiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s second year to perform here and it will be a beautiful show,” Britt said. “We are thankful to have that opportunity.”
Internationally there are only 135 school selected for the All-Steinway designation. Nicholls is the only state university that has received the designation, and one of only two in the state of Louisiana.
Britt said the concert is free for students who contact the music department.
Contact the music department at 448-4600 to receive a code for free entrance to the performance.
Tickets for non-students are $20 and may be purchased online at lpomusic.com.
The Nicholls music department also has upcoming events including  the Nicholls Concert Choir on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., the Nicholls Chamber Singers Christmas Dinner on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. and the String Studio Recital on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The Nicholls Chamber Singers Christmas Dinner titled Christmas in New York will include a meal with the performance. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children.
Jency Daigle, education sophomore from Dulac, said she attends the music deparment events every semester.
“I have not been to a performance at Nicholls that I have not enjoyed,” Diagle said. “Each one is something different and it’s nice to get some culture.
The Louisana Philharmonic Orchestra’s other holiday events include the Northshore Nutcracker, with Delta Festival Ballet, Tacky Holiday Sweater Party, Yuletide Celebration with a special appearance from Santa, Angelic Sounds of Christmas and Baroque Christmas.
Wells said the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s performances are reaching more people as the orchestra grows.
More information on Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra can be found at www.lpomusic.com.