A concert exemplifying the region’s spirit of courage and determination will be performed this weekend.

The Lake Charles Community Band will present a free night of music exploring “The Hero’s Journey” at 6 p.m. Sunday at McNeese State University’s Tritico Theater.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Jeremi Edwards, assistant professor of music theory and composition at McNeese, called “The Hero’s Journey” a literary “storytelling framework” that has been utilized for centuries.

Audiences might recognize the narrative structure in mainstream media phenomena like “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Matrix,” he said.

Edwards said this storytelling structure has been popularized because of how it reflects universal human experiences.

“Stepping into the unknown, overcoming challenges and emerging transformed. Music, much like storytelling, has the power to take listeners on an emotional journey,” he explained. “This program was inspired by the idea that every person, in their own way, embarks on a hero’s journey throughout life.”

The performance is expected to be more than music. It’s an opportunity for the public to reflect on the importance of the journey and assess their own progress.

“This program is more than just a concert — it’s a journey,” Community Band Conductor Davaron Edwards, assistant director of bands, said in a McNeese news release. “Through every note and phrase, we’re telling the story of courage, hope and the resilience it takes to overcome life’s challenges.”

The concert is also a celebration of Southwest Louisiana’s own heroes’ journeys, Jeremi said.

“Southwest Louisiana has a rich history of resilience, community and perseverance in the face of challenges,” he said. “From natural disasters to economic hardships, our region knows what it means to embark on difficult journeys and emerge stronger.

“Through music, we hope to inspire our audience on to reflect on their own personal journeys and remind them that, like the heroes in great stories, they too can overcome adversity and grow from their experiences.”

The Lake Charles Community Band is a 65-person ensemble composed of Southwest Louisiana musicians. Jeremi called the band a group that brings “passion, dedication and a love for music” to every performance.

Audience members can expect classic compositions like “Rhosymedre” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, arranged by Merlin Patterson, and pop culture orchestral pieces like “Star Wars: The Marches” by John Williams, arranged by Jerry Brubaker.

Heroic journeys, both big and small, will be honored during the concert. Davaron highlighted a performance of “A Movement for Rosa,” a piece that reveres the legacy of Rosa Parks.