The University of Iowa School of Music's 2012-13 Distinguished Clarinet Lecture/Recital Series on Brazilian Music will begin with a free event by faculty clarinetist Maurita Murphy Mead, assisted by guitar student ZeEmilio Gobbo, at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30, in the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol.

The topic of the first event will be "The Brazilian 'Choro': Race, Class, and Nationalism in Brazil." Choro, which means "to cry," is a popular style of sophisticated instrumental music that originated in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century.

Choros are known for their lively rhythms, virtuoso improvisations, and syncopations, and their titles represent everyday life in Brazil. The clarinet is one of the instruments commonly used to perform choros.

Mead has received many invitations both nationally and internationally to perform Brazilian music, which has become her passion.

Her Brazilian concerts include international clarinet conferences and the National Clarinet Symposium of Brazil, as well as at many universities in the United States and abroad. She was a featured guest solo artist at the International Clarinet Symposium at the University of Oklahoma, where she performed an all-Brazilian recital.

She was invited to present scholarly papers at international conferences in Greece and Ireland on "The Brazilian Choro: Race, Class, and Nationalism in Brazil," along with demonstrations from her Red Hot & Brazilian CD.

Mead's Over the Fence debut recital with pianist Rafael Dos Santos resulted in their first CD of Brazilian choros along with a Brazilian promotional tour and solo recital at the National Clarinet Symposium in Rio de Janeiro.

The other events in the UI Brazilian music series will be Dec. 9, Feb. 24, and April 14.

The School of Music is a unit in the Division of Performing Arts of the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For accommodations at the event, contact the school at 319-335-1603. For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events, visit the new Arts Iowa website.