Acclaimed documentary 'Following the Ninth' to be shown Wednesday, March 26 Acclaimed documentary 'Following the Ninth' to be shown Wednesday, March 26

Everyone knows the tune and composer, but did you know that Lugwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been adopted as an anthem around the world for freedom and social justice movements? It has given power to events from the fall of the Berlin Wall to Tiananmen Square in China. The work as a whole, and especially the last movement set to Friedrich Schiller's "Ode to Joy," has been recognized as one of the greatest examples of music's universal power to inspire, uplift and unify people around the globe. Its enduring message of unity and brotherhood transcends anything that divides us.

WSU's International Education office and Study Abroad program are sponsoring the upcoming screening of the acclaimed documentary film "Following the Ninth," which spans five continents in exploring the humanitarian, social and political impact Ludwig van Beethoven's final symphony has had on contemporary historical events.

The screening will be held at the Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway. A Q&A will follow the film with director, Kerry Candaele, and Wichita Symphony Orchestra conductor, maestro Daniel Hege.

Tickets are $8 for students/seniors/military and $10 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at tallgrassfilmfest.com or at the door.

The following week, on April 5 and 6, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra will perform this masterpiece along with the WSO chorus and four soloists.

Special student tickets will be sold at the film screening for this symphony performance for $10 (normally a $17-$55 price.) This is a fantastic deal for students to see the film and hear the symphony and chorus for $18 total. Go to http://wichitasymphony.org/ for more information.

You can watch the film trailer at http://www.followingtheninth.com/#!trailer-and-video-clips/c1yi7

Read more information at http://www.followingtheninth.com/ ; www.tallgrassfilmfest.com