Irion Hall, home to the Elmhurst College Department of Music, turns 100 this year.

To celebrate, the department will host an open house and fundraiser featuring performances throughout the evening by all of the department’s student ensembles.

The Irion Hall Centennial Celebration, to be held on Saturday, September 29, will be an opportunity to celebrate the building, welcome back those who lived in Irion when it was a residence hall, and showcase the Department of Music’s many performance ensembles. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be used by the department to acquire instruments, pay travel expenses for the ensembles, purchase new equipment and update classroom instructional equipment.

After its dedication in 1912, Irion Hall housed Elmhurst’s 100 students, as well as the library, the gymnasium and the chapel. By 1928, the School of Music had located its office and studios in Irion. Students lived there until 1975, when Irion came to house primarily the Department of Music. In 1979, a $1.7 million renovation of Irion was completed that dramatically improved the educational, rehearsal and performance environment for music students, and that allowed programs to flourish.

The ensembles scheduled to perform at the Centennial Celebration include the Elmhurst College Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorus, Late Night Blues, Elmhurst College Jazz Band, Gretsch Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Trumpet Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Ensemble and Woodwind Quartet. Each ensemble will perform a 15-minute mini-concert in one of four venues in Irion.

The Irion Hall Centennial Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 29, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Irion Hall. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and dessert will be served. A complete performance schedule will be available soon on the Department of Music web site. Tickets are available online for $75 per person.