Sounds of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Eric Whitacre and several other composers filled Van Meter auditorium Sunday night when the WKU Music Department held “An Afternoon of Choral Music.”

Performers included the Southern Kentucky Choral Society, the WKU men’s and women’s choruses, the Treblemakers, the RedShirts and the WKU Chorale.

Rebekah Pate, a Bardstown sophomore, found out about the concert on WKU’s website.

“I was looking online and it was on the calendar,” Pate said. “I’m a big fan of Pitch Perfect, so I wanted to see the Treblemakers and RedShirts, because I never have before.”

Pate said she used to be in choir in high school.

“I wanted to see what the choirs here are like and potentially see how to audition for them,” she said.

Pate said she currently doesn’t know much about WKU’s Music Department.

“I hope to learn more about what they do, what the choir does, how they perform, etc,” she said.

The Southern Kentucky Choral Society opened the concert with their performance of “Regina Coeli, K. 276” by Mozart.

The WKU men’s chorus performed next with their renditions of “I Come Singing” by Eric Barnum, “Crossing the Bar” from “Love Was My Lord and King!” by Gwyneth Walker and “O Sing to the Lord” by Dan Davison.

Following them was female a cappella group, The Treblemakers, with their performance of “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”

All male a cappella group, The RedShirts, performed next with their rendition of “Sh-Boom” by The Chords.

Lane French, a Harrodsburg sophomore, said he was looking to get into more vocal-related activities.

“I’m a musical theatre student and recent transfer, so I came to check out all the different choirs they have here on campus,” he said.

French said he was looking most forward to the Treblemakers and the RedShirts.

“I’m big into a cappella,” he said, adding that he had very high expectations going into the concert.

“I’ve heard a lot about the choirs here,” French said. “I know there’s a strong music department, as well as a strong theatre and dance program. I know the arts are strong here at WKU.”

Looking to join a group himself, French said he was hoping to see which choral group would appeal most to him.

“I’m seeing whether I’d want to be in a full choir, just men’s, or more of an a cappella group,” French said. “I’m looking to see where I’d fit in more.”

The WKU women’s chorus followed the RedShirts with their performances of “Abendlied” by Mendelssohn, “If Through the Sea of Night” by D. Farrell Smith and “Under the Greenwood Tree” by Clifton J. Noble Jr.

The WKU Choral was the last group of performers. Their selections included “Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks” from “Four Anthems” by Herbert Howells, “Tece Voda, Tece” by Deems Taylor, and “Cloudburst” by Eric Whitacre.

French said coming to concerts like this is a great thing to do.

“You never know — you could come in and it could change the rest of your life if you want to do choral music,” French said.

“You can be an art major but find out you have a passion for music. It’s good to get a well-rounded knowledge of everything on campus.”

Kylie Ramsey, a freshman from Lebanon, Tenn., attended the concert for her music appreciation class.

“I have a couple of friends who are involved in the performance, so I’m really excited to see them perform for the first time,” Ramsey said, adding that she always likes hearing vocal music.

Ramsey said concerts like this help to integrate students into the culture of WKU.

“It’s nice to get out and do something that’s educational and fun,” Ramsey said.

“It makes you feel connected to the university.”

Pate said she encourages WKU students to check out what events are going on around campus.

“I didn’t know until I was on the computer today,” Pate said.

“It’s good to be in the know about stuff. It gets you more involved on campus and makes you feel like you’re a part of something.”