What: University of North Texas College of Music's Nova new music ensemble will perform a varied collection of contemporary music.

When: 8 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday).

Where: Paul Voertman Concert Hall, located in the Music Building at 415 Avenue C, Denton.

Cost: Free.

More information: For a complete list of UNT College of Music events, including faculty and student recitals, visit the College of Music online calendar and connect with the College of Music on Facebook and on Twitter at @UNTCoM.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The Nova new music ensemble from the University of North Texas College of Music is putting the "fun" in the fundamentals of contemporary classical music at 8 p.m. on April 12 (Tuesday). Elizabeth McNutt, the director of the ensemble, says the performance will include highly varied pieces that will appeal to many types of audiences.

"I like to develop programs that show diversity of styles for both those playing and those listening," McNutt said. "For this program, on one hand, we're doing a fairly conservative song cycle by American composer John Harbison, but on the other hand, we're doing this brand new set of songs by a UNT composition student that's experimental and has really unusual combinations of sound. So, it's got both sides."

McNutt hopes the concert not only highlights the wide range of Nova's talents, but shows audiences a more relaxed side of the chamber concert experience.

"It's extremely fun because you're going to hear such highly varied repertoire," McNutt said. "I don't necessarily expect people to love every piece they hear, but I want them to know that every piece is going to be different. So, even if the first piece isn't stylistically grabbing you, the next piece may be in a fresh style using different instruments."

Contemporary music allows McNutt to present new challenges to her students, who she hopes develop an open mind and high-tuned chamber music skills through their work with the ensemble.

"I choose more ambitious projects, but fewer of them so I can really push the students intellectually and musically, while not causing them to feel overwhelmed," McNutt said. "At the same time, I think music should be fun. I want it to be fun. I have a fun time playing, and my students, I hope, are having fun too. We hope the audience enjoys new music like we do."

About the UNT College of Music

The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the world. Approximately 1,500 music students attend the college each year, participating in nearly 70 widely varied ensembles while engaged in specialized studies in performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, music history, music theory or ethnomusicology. Music students, alumni and faculty have made appearances on the world's finest stages, have produced numerous recordings with many receiving Grammy awards and nominations, and have written influential texts in a variety of areas in music scholarship. Distinguished University alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities, and schools.