MONMOUTH, Ill. - Although Homecoming at Monmouth College is traditionally a weekend of bagpipes, football and the gathering of reunion classes, this year's Homecoming, set for Oct. 11-13, will continue the tradition of featuring musical performances for the community and the hundreds of returning friends and alumni of the college.

Perry White, director of choral activities, has announced that the college's Monmouth Singers and the Monmouth College Chorale will stage a performance at Faith United Presbyterian Church, 200 South Eighth St., at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12. The concert is free and open to the public.

The first portion of the program will feature the Monmouth Singers, an ensemble of six Monmouth College alumni and faculty and community members, who will be performing John Rutter's "Reluctant Dragon," which White describes as a small operetta or cantata. The dramatic work, he says, is light and comic and lasts about 25 minutes.

Rutter, a British composer and choral director whom White considers one of the most prolific choral composers of our time, wrote "Reluctant Dragon" in 1984 to be performed by the King's Singers of England. It should be noted that the King's Singers, a renowned six-voice male ensemble, will be performing in Monmouth on Nov. 10 as part of the Maple Leaf Community Concert Series.

The Monmouth Singers include, White; Dalene White, director of planned giving and major gifts at the college; Brett Wolfe '90; Pete Gebauer, professor of chemistry at the college; and Jim Keefe. The guest accompanist for the ensemble is Lenna Burnett.

Following the Monmouth Singers will be a performance by the Monmouth College Chorale, a 41-voice, highly auditioned choral ensemble. The Chorale will be performing some selections from their upcoming spring tour, portions of which White says are "an exploration of the history of the vocal motet."

Specially, White says, the group will be performing a collection of sacred motets in Latin, followed by some traditional Scottish selections which are more folk in character. He notes the Chorale's musical selections for the October performance and their spring tour are in keeping with the college's on-going sesquicentennial celebration.