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Mitchell Sturges believes there's a whole world of music — and musicians — just waiting to be discovered. And he wants to do his part to bring that world to audiences.

Expositions :: SLC Concert Series, the series Sturges founded with friend and fellow singer Devon Durkee, is about "giving performance experience to those who are ready for this exposure," the tenor and University of Arizona graduate student said in a phone chat from Tucson. It's also about promoting 20th- and 21st-century music, "and if the composer is living, that's even better," he said.

Expositions' inaugural concert Sunday, Sept. 18, is an "Afternoon of Opera" that will include some pieces nearly everyone knows, such as "Un bel dì vedremo" from Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and the Flower Duet from Delibes' "Lakme," as well as excerpts that, while not as familiar, are favorites of opera buffs.

Performers are sopranos Felicia Lundie, Camella Iund and Michelle Alexander, mezzo Gretchen Windt and tenors Chad Millar and Luke L. Bahr, with pianist Carol Anderson.

"It's not light and fluffy, but not really adventurous," Sturges said of the program. He's saving the bolder fare for later in the season — for example, an April concert devoted to the music of iconoclastic American composer Charles Ives, and a November recital by soprano Clara Hurtado-Lee that will span the 13th to 20th centuries.

Another potential highlight will be a March program called "Story in Song" that will juxtapose two favorites — Ravel's "Shéhérazade" and Schumann's "Dichterliebe" — with contemporary composer Tom Cipullo's "Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House."

Rounding out the season: a Beethoven program, in connection with the Utah Symphony's Beethoven Festival, that will include the "Moonlight" Sonata and the aria "Ah! Perfido"; an afternoon of American spirituals; and an organ recital by Larry Blackburn.

"Salt Lake can definitely handle another concert series," Sturges said. "There is so much great music out there that needs to be heard."

Catherine Reese Newton —

First exposure

P The Expositions :: SLC Concert Series presents its inaugural concert, "Afternoon at the Opera."

Where • First Congregational Church, 2150 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City.

When • Today at 3 p.m.

Tickets • Suggested donation $5 per person, $20 per family.

Information • slcexpositions.weebly.com