CANTON -- The St. Lawrence University Laurentian Singers will perform Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m. in Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall.

Admission is free.

The repertoire focuses on 20th- and 21st-century American music inspired by great poetry. The set opens with Earl George’s setting of five poems from William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence.” The work of E. E. Cummings is represented by Vincent Persichetti’s “sam was a man,” sung by the men, and Eric Whitacre’s “I thank You God for most this amazing day.”

The women will be featured in a setting of Emily Dickinson’s “If I can stop one heart from breaking” by Libby Larsen. Robert Frost’s “Choose Something Like a Star” as set by the dean of American choral composers, Randall Thompson, will close this portion.

The concert opens with “Brindisi” from Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The program also includes hits such as Rodgers and Hart’s “Blue Moon,” Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” and Dave Matthews’ “Gravedigger,” as well as the American folk hymn “How can I keep from singing,” gospel tunes “I’ll Fly Away” and “Sing till the Power” and the spiritual “In Bright Mansions.”