You won’t have to wait around long to hear a familiar tune in Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” In fact, the opening notes form one of the most recognizable musical sound bites in existence. From films to commercials to talk radio intros, “O Fortuna” is used so often that if you say you’ve never heard it, you must be either living under a rock or lying.

The Spokane Symphony and the Spokane Symphony Chorale will perform Orff’s masterpiece at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The rest of the piece, while nowhere near as ubiquitous as the first movement, is no less powerful, said baritone soloist Aaron Agulay. A professor of music at WSU, Agulay will be making his debut with the Spokane Symphony.

“It’s a real test of stamina,” Agulay said. “But with the range that it uses, there are so many special moments…. Hearing ‘Carmina Burana’ for the first time, I just thought, ‘This is out of this world … who can possibly sing this?’ ” Agulay sings almost from start to finish, oscillating between soaring high notes and some of the lowest required of a baritone.

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The Spokesman-Review

Washington State University assistant professor Aaron Agulay has been honored with the Bayard Rustin Excellence Award for his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. A virtual ceremony was created to mark the occasion.

Chris Dickey, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium in the WSU School of Music and chair of the President’s Commission on Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation, said during the virtual ceremony that the Commission’s executive team voted unanimously to give the award to Agulay.

“Aaron Agulay’s record for both his leadership and advocacy is both commendable and inspiring,” Dickey said. “His impressive work truly embodies the Rustin spirit and shows a commitment to the advancement of the LGBTQ+ community.”

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WSU Insider

Christiano Rodrigues, assistant professor of violin and viola at Washington State University, performs Tuesday in the Terrell Library atrium on the WSU campus in Pullman as part of a humanitarian concert in support of Ukraine in the midst of recent Russian attacks. The concert featured works by Ukrainian composers combined with music from around the world.

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Daily News