Steeped in tradition, one local college is celebrating growth by looking back into the past.

Doubling up as a symbol of Milligan College’s faith and gathering area, the school will recognize Seeger Memorial Chapel’s 50 years of service to the campus on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. with a celebratory musical performance in the chapel’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

According to information provided by the college, the Milligan orchestra and choral ensembles — under the direction of Milligan music professors Dr. Kellie Brown and Dr. Noah Delong — will lead an hour-long concert featuring a bevy of worship songs and hymns, including “Amazing Grace” to “Before the Throne of God Above.”

As the school looks to grow, Sunday’s event will highlight the importance of Milligan’s already noticeable growth over the years, according to Brown.

“Seeger Chapel is a very important part of Milligan,” Brown told the Elizabethton Star Wednesday. “It’s the center of the campus when it comes to different events, from graduation to matriculation to our concerts. There’s rich heritage at the school and we’re hoping to display that with the different songs and hymns.”

One of the highlights of the concert will include the chapel’s 46-rank Schantz organ. The organ was installed inside Seeger following its completion in 1967, according to the school, by the world-famous Schantz Organ Company based out of Ohio.

Various guest organists will be on site for the concert, said Dr. David Runner, Milligan professor emeritus of music who has served as the school’s organist for over 45 years.

Others that will perform during the afternoon include Matthew Brickey of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, Susan Hoover with First Baptist Church of Kingsport and Anne Sorrell with First Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport.

Seeger officially celebrated its 50th anniversary in November, but Brown added that it was better from a timely standpoint to hold a concert at the start of the new year. The idea of a concert started to come alive after a plaque inside the chapel noted its original date of completion.

And the concert, according to the director, will be important to not only bring together members of the college, but the entire region.

“We want to encourage churches from across the area to attend and share in worship,” Brown said. “We are excited to share the hymns that have served as the foundation for Christian worship and introduce some new hymns, too.”

While highlighting the past, Sunday’s concert also provides a bit of insight into the growth at the school. Just recently, the school announced they will unveiled a degree for Musical Theatre starting in the fall semester of 2018.

“I’ve been here 20 years and it’s been fantastic to see the growth of the musical department,” Brown said. “With the addition of the musical theatre degree, that will only enhance the learning for our students and give them a good grasp of what they’ll need to do to be successful in the career.”

Visit milligan.edu to learn more about the concert and other events going on at the campus.