Lehighton native Peter Petrack will premiere an orchestral piece with the Moravian College Community Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sunday in Moravian College's Foy Concert Hall.

The piece will be conducted by Maestro Donald Spieth."The Penitence of Time" is an orchestral symphonic poem inspired by the history and ghost stories surrounding Bethlehem and Moravian College's music building, the 1748 Brethren's House, which was used as a Revolutionary War hospital. Petrack graduated from Moravian College in May."During my time as a student at Moravian, I spent a lot of time working in the music building. It's one of the things that goes along with studying music. A lot of time is spent practicing, and solitary time is spent working," said Petrack."Being in this building that is going to turn 275 years old in the coming year, there is a lot of history. There are plenty of people who say it is haunted. While I didn't experience that, you can't deny that history exists there. It inspired me to write this music."Throughout the piece, listeners can hear orchestral bells striking midnight, as well as references to church chorales and Revolutionary War-era fife and drum.He has expressed both excitement and a sense of surrealism when thinking about Sunday's performance."It's very exciting. At the same time, it's a little nerve-wracking," he said. "It's so unusual to come to rehearsals as a visiting professional, rather than as a student sitting in one of the seats. It's very surreal and very exciting."Petrack estimates that this is his 20th composition to premiere publicly. His first composition, "Remembering," was written for the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band in honor of its 100th anniversary in 2012. He credits much of his musical success and passion to the Boys and Girls Band, as well as local music teachers Robert and Melissa Fetterman."I come from a strong program. The community bands in Lehighton and the surrounding communities are very strong and have a great history," he said. "I've been lucky to have an extremely supportive group around me, both in college and here at home."While Petrack's work to date has covered a variety of musical styles and groups, he notes that it was his personal experience as a musician, and as a musician with the Moravian College Community Orchestra, that helped him to tailor the piece to this group."It's people that I know, and the sound that I'm used to. It's a skilled group of people," he said. "Musicians playing your compositions are the first people who have to enjoy your work, not the audience. I can hear those moments that I planned for individuals. They really stick the landing, in layman's terms."His work to date has been written for musicians ranging from solo piano and chamber ensembles to jazz combos and big band.His "Season of Ice," a translation of a ninth century Gaelic poem set to music for women's voices, opened the 2015 Moravian College Christmas Vespers, a concert series with over 6,000 annual attendees.In April, the Moravian College Wind Ensemble with guest artist and Australian composer Sean O'Boyle conducting, premiered Petrack's honors composition, "The Brethren's Voice," a suite of early Moravian hymns. The piece had been orchestrated into a large-scale composition and featured a trombone quartet with Petrack as principal.In October, the piece was performed again, with the trombone quartet and organ, at the Moravian History and Music Conference with Petrack again playing lead trombone."The Brethren's Voice" will also be performed in June by the Bethlehem Municipal Band and guests in the closing concert of Bethlehem's 275th anniversary celebration. Petrack will conduct the piece."I am taking advantage of my education, and the various opportunities given to me," said Petrack, who is currently working as an independent music copy editor and with the Moravian College music program as it prepares for Bethlehem's 275th anniversary celebration.He spends his remaining time focusing on his compositions, and is considering graduate school and film training."I hope to bring back accessible, well-developed music to American communities," he said, noting that it can be difficult for young musicians and teachers to find high-quality music."Every sort of music has its place, just as every person has their place. I definitely think the tradition of music that has existed, that those things have to be preserved and remain accessible for all generations," he said."I hope that pieces of music like 'The Penitence of Time' will add to that, especially since it is composed of stories and ideas that are present in our region."Tickets for Sunday's concert are available at

www.lvartscouncil.org, or at the Moravian box office the night of the performance.