MARSHALL — With its upcoming concert, the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra is marking a special milestone.

The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra is performing “Making Music in Marshall” at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts at Marshall High School.

Friday’s concert is director Dr. Daniel Rieppel’s 20th year with the SMO.

“The program we put together is reflective of some of the stuff I’ve done in the last 20 years,” Rieppel said.

The concert opens with “The Marriage of Figaro: Overture” by Mozart, which is the first piece Rieppel did with the orchestra.

“Yes, it’s a bit daunting to think of all the time that has passed since that first performance with SMO,” Rieppel said. “Julieta (my wife) and I thought it might only be a few years, but as it’s turned out, SMSU was the foundation of my family — trips to Germany, Austria, Panama, research projects that never would have come to fruition without my association with SMSU, a wonderful community to raise our two children in — so many good things came from staying in Marshall making music!” Rieppel noted that his son, Erich, who has performed with the SMO, was recently named principal timpanist of the Minnesota Orchestra.

The orchestra is performing the second movement of “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” by Robert Whitcomb. Rieppel said Whitcomb wrote the piece for him on the occasion of the composer’s 85th birthday. The SMO did a whole festival of his works during that semester of 2008.

“It’s a very meaningful piece for me, as his music represents the pinnacle of style associated with mid-20th century optimism –the ending of WWII, the economic vigor of the USA, our diplomatic and military prestige around the world-the crowning of the American century,” Rieppel said. “Bob belonged to that generation –WWII vet and war hero, taking his advanced degrees on the GI Bill, raising a family of three strapping sons in Marshall, all of whom have gone on to very distinguished careers. Bob lived a great American life.”

Rieppel said the concert includes a piece he wrote on Bill Holm, “Boxelder Bug Boogie.” The number was debuted earlier this year.

The concert also includes five Lieder by Franz Schubert, orchestrated by Johannes Brahms. The program ends with Brahms’ first piano concerto, Rieppel said.

“It’s a big magnificent piece,” Rieppel said of the concerto.

The concert also features special guests Clara Osowski, an internationally-acclaimed mezzo-soprano, as well as Manny Laureano, principal trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra.

“She’s fantastic, one of the finest singers we’ve ever had living in Minnesota,” Rieppel said of Osowski.

She will be the soloist for the Schubert pieces. Laureano will be the guest conductor during the Brahms piano concerto.