Theyre here. Theyre there. Theyre everywhere. And the groups that play a rapid-fire succession of musical selections, in locations all around the auditorium at Van Meter Hall, will be lighted with special effects Friday night during the eighth annual Prism Concert at Western Kentucky University. Traditionally, the concert has been a sellout due to its unusual format and highly entertaining nature, said John Carmichael, WKUs director of bands and organizer of the concert. What we try to do is present one musical number after another so rapidly that people are unable to applaud in between. This years concert includes the WKU Symphonic Band, the Percussion Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, the Basketball Band and the Clarinet Choir. A bluegrass band and a funk band, complete with a focus on James Brown, will also perform. Brad Baumgardner, a WKU senior from Nashville, will have his composition First Snow, for handbells and oboe, performed. Its a little different because its polytonal, Baumgardner said. Its two different chord structures going on at the same time. Carmichael loves the concerts diversity. What makes this even more interesting is the variety of ensembles and the various locations from which they perform, he said. We will use virtually all of the auditorium in the presentations, with no two selections occurring from the same place in sequence. The big number in this years concert is Evolution. It is a compositional tour de force that demonstrates the evolution of the music over time through style changes and use of quotation, Carmichael said. There are nine narrations during the first half of the work, followed by some wonderful composition using ancient chant as a basis for various musical styles. The grand finale is a section that quotes excerpts from very familiar musical arts works, thereby illuminating the progress of music history into the now. Carmichael says he stole the idea for the Prism Concert from Florida State University, where the concert is held in a world-class auditorium that seats 2,000 and sells out four shows with no advertising because of word of mouth. Carmichael hopes the WKU concert will someday garner the same attention, and hed like Van Meter Auditorium renovated so the possibility of technical error during shows is eliminated. Hed like the students and others who see the Prism Concert to be amazed. We do this to recruit students, Carmichael said. The concert begins at 8 p.m.Admission to the show is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be bought at the door the night of the concert, or purchased in advance at Royal Music or the WKU Music Office on campus. All proceeds benefit the WKU Music Program. For more information, call Carmichael at 745-5893, 793-9637 or 745-3751.