Beyond touring campus and showing off dorm rooms and apartments, students have the chance to spice up the agenda for Parents' Weekend with a School of Music performance.

The choral ensembles will put on a joint concert for parents, students and community members at 8 Saturday night.

Because it's still early in the semester -- meaning limited rehearsal time to break in new and existing members -- the Fall Choral Collage will feature just two songs from each of the seven School of Music choirs: University Choir, Concert Choir, Oriana Singers, Glee Club, Essence of Joy, Chamber Singers and Women's Chorale.

"That's how we can pull this off so easily, because each ensemble has to prepare only eight minutes of songs," said Lynn Drafall, music professor and conductor of Oriana Singers and Concert Choir.

Because there will be seven groups on stage, the audience will get the chance to see a show with a lot of variety, Chris Kiver, music professor, said.

"They're going to be able to hear music that spans 500 years in many cultures and genres," Kiver said.

All ensembles will be on stage at once, which Kiver, conductor of Chamber singers and the Glee Club, said will add a visual aspect to the show -- something smaller concerts cannot afford.

This is the fourth year the Choral Collage has taken place during Parents' Weekend.

"It's a rare opportunity to hear all of the choirs in one concert," Kiver said.

Drafall added the magnitude of the show lends itself to a more informal feel so singers can get comfortable performing.

"It's certainly a good way to start the year," Kiver said. "For the newer members, it's a great way to understand the etiquette."

Drafall said the early nature of the show is beneficial to both singers and their parents.

"It was something nice for us to do at the beginning of the year to get the choirs together to sing with each other," Drafall said. "It allows [parents] to see what their kids are doing right in the first month of school."

The students performing have to rally to get everything ready in time for the show.

"As a choir we kind of have to get together and really work hard," said Amy Gilbert (senior-electrical engineering), the president of Oriana Singers.

The challenge for the directors was choosing songs that would be performance ready in the short amount of time, Gilbert said.

The concert will end with all of the groups singing the Penn State Alma Mater. In addition to the 300 performers, they will invite the audience to sing along, Kiver said.

Drafall said she thinks the students are excited by the prospect of performing for all the parents.

In addition to a capella music, half of the choirs will be accompanied by the piano, Drafall said. The Glee Club will also be using the hall's organ to perform a dramatic piece, Kiver said.

Gilbert said because of the variety of the groups, the concert is sure to hold the attention of the audience the whole time.

"There's going to be some classical pieces, some fun, kooky, crazy pieces," he said.