FARMINGTON – When an orchestra of 50 car horns gives a musical presentation today at the University of Maine at Farmington, it will be a world premier, not only for the audience but for the conductors as well.

“It will be the first time for everyone to actually hear what it sounds like,” said Lily Funahashi, one of the five conductors who will be spread out over three parking lots waving flags to indicate to car owners when to toot their horns.

Performances are planned at 5:10 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot behind the university’s Psychology Building, the former Methodist church, on Main Street. A couple other parking lots near the building will contain parts of the car orchestra.

The musical piece, “Car Life: A Traffic Jam Session for Automobile Orchestra,” is an original work by Phil Carlsen, UMF professor of music, that begins an Arts Night, the kickoff for the Michael D. Wilson Symposium Day, an annual event at the campus.

A group of arts-minded students, faculty and staff have created Arts Night as an opening celebration that will offer a variety of unique visual and performing arts presentations scheduled between 5 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at UMF’s Nordica Auditorium, Art Gallery and Alumni Theatre. The events are free and open to the public.

Carlsen, Funahashi said, was inspired by one of his former teachers who created a trombone solo using car horns. Depending on the make of cars he expects to participate, Carlsen has assigned five different sections to the orchestra divided by the type of horns. With five conductors in three parking lots, a system of signals relayed by flags has been established. The driver will have a musical score that indicates what the black, white and colored flag means, she said, but the drivers haven’t had a chance to practice the piece together. The conductors have practiced with the flags, but it will be the first time for everyone to hear the sights and sounds of the 10-minute performance.

Along with the horns, radios, warning beepers and revving engines are part of the score. The orchestra will include UMF President Theodora Kalikow’s Toyota Prius; a 1985 classic Mercedes Benz owned by Rob Lively, UMF dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and a 1968 Shelby Cobra GT owned by Peter Simmel, UMF associate professor of theater. Students, faculty, employees and some community members are expected to make up the orchestra.

After the performance, an art show, original plays, experimental music and rock bands featuring UMF students, faculty and staff will be offered.

A complete listing of the Arts Night and Symposium may be found at http://www.umf.maine.edu.

The Symposium Day is dedicated to the sharing of student’s research, scholarship and creative activities. For the last eight years, students from all UMF disciplines showcase their accomplishments through a day of oral and poster presentations, performances, readings and art gallery exhibitions. This year, it has been renamed the Michael D. Wilson Symposium Day, supported by a gift from Michael and Susan Angelides, in memory of the late Michael D. Wilson, UMF class of 1976. The event is free and open to the public and will be held from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at various campus locations.