Coastal Carolina University is hosting its first Liederabend, an evening of German songs, on Friday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

Students, faculty and guests will present a program of German music and share stories about the composers and poets who created the romantic songs of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The evening begins at 7 p.m. with refreshments in the Wheelwright lobby – nonalcoholic, sparking cider (in lieu of the traditional wine and beer), cheeses, rolls and German crackers. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

The “evening of song” is traditional to Austria and Germany, usually held in people’s homes, and will feature Coastal music professor Philip Powell, chair of Coastal’s Department of Performing Arts, and veteran singer/songwriter/guitarist David Bankston, with Powell on piano and Bankston singing. CCU staff member Sandy Smith, a trained soprano, and Brown Bradley, music director of First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, will also perform.

Students who are singing include Alissa Watts, Jody Watts, Jennifer Leigh, Chela Carter, Jason Frye, Lara Zamarippa and Elise Testone. While they are singing, another group will be narrating, translating and telling the stories behind the songs. Those students include April Adams, Kirby Hood, Kristen Skarzynski and Nate Ayres

. Patti Yvonne Edwards, assistant professor of performing arts, is coordinating the program.

For more information, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.