COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho College will present Dr. Tim Sharp and NIC Choral Union in a performance of "High Lonesome Mass" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center.

As part of a three-day residency at NIC, Sharp will also give a presentation on American Bluegrass, the origins of the music of the "sacred harp" and "shape note" singing traditions at 11 a.m. Oct. 8, in Boswell Hall room 102. From Oct. 7-9, Sharp will be working with choral students and the community as they prepare to perform his "High Lonesome Mass."

All events are free and open to the public, but non-perishable food items will be taken at the door for the NIC Food Pantry.

Sharp is a distinguished conductor and composer, as well as the executive director of the American Choral Director's Association. This is his fifth season as artistic director of the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, where critics characterize his performances as having "stunning power" and "great passion and precision."

Sharp previously served as the dean of fine arts at Rhodes College in Memphis. He also served as director of choirs at Belmont University. Sharp is an accomplished banjo player, which he will play for the Oct. 9 performance.

Sharp's "High Lonesome Mass" is a unique composition which combines elements of the Medieval Latin Mass form and melodies of Southern Harmony hymns. The result is a blend of beautiful melody and bluegrass harmonies and rhythms. The melodies for many of the movements of the Mass are taken from familiar southern hymns, such as "Do Lord," "Holy Manna" and "What Wondrous Love is This."

The NIC Choral Union is under the direction of NIC choral instructor Max Mendez and comprises the NIC Cardinal Chorale and Chamber Singers. The choirs consist of NIC students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the community.

In his 10th year as director of choirs, Mendez, along with other music faculty, has helped establish a tradition of serving the community through musical enrichment.

The NIC Choirs have recently been invited to participate in the Carnegie Hall debut of Sharp's "High Lonesome Mass" in May 2015. Forty singers will travel to New York and join Sharp and other choirs from across the U.S. to sing in the debut.

Information: (208) 769-3275 or www.nic.edu/events.