This Sunday, Penn State professor and acclaimed saxophonist Dan Yoder will be performing with the Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra at 3 p.m. in the Faith United Church of Christ, 300 E. College Ave.

Yoder, a professor of music has been with the university for 13 years.

He teaches saxophone and also serves as the director of jazz studies. Yoder also teaches five jazz-related classes, including history, harmony, improvisation and pedagogy.

During his years at Penn State, he has helped the jazz department to grow and expand to include three jazz bands and six combos.

The top jazz band that he directs, Centre Dimensions, has won praise at jazz festivals throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

Douglas Meyer, conductor of the PCCO, is excited about the upcoming show and believes this is a wonderful opportunity to see a classical saxophonist.

"This is sort of a rarity," Meyer said.

It is not often that a saxophonist is showcased in a classical scenario, although there are roughly 1,000 classical pieces written for the saxophone.

Another rarity is that a woman, Paule Maurice, composed the piece Yoder will be performing. The piece is titled "Tableaux de Provence for Alto Saxophone."

The orchestra will also be playing the pieces "Little Suite" by Nielsen, "Concerto for 2 Oboes and 2 Clarinets" by Vivaldi and "Ancient Airs and Dances Suite I" by Respighi.

After the performance, there will be a fundraiser for the chamber orchestra held at Spats Café and Speakeasy, 142 E. College Ave. Food and wine of the Mediterranean region will be served to go along with the theme of Mediterranean composers.

Cost for the reception is $35 and reservations can be made at the PCCO office, 234-8313.