Kansas University’s music and dance department presents two concerts by the Helianthus Contemporary Ensemble, a group composed of student musicians and conductors who present contemporary chamber music rarely performed by conventional ensembles.

The first of two concerts takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Swarthout Recital Hall, featuring the world premiere of a notable guest composer’s work. The program features the music of Rzewski, Crumb, Rakowski and Messiaen, with works ranging from Rzewski’s “Les Moutons de Panurge” to Messiaen’s “Oiseaux Exotiques.” The students welcome special guest composer David Rakowski, a professor of composition at the Brandeis University School of Creative Art. The ensemble will premiere Rakowski’s new work, “Gli Uccelli di Bogliasco.”

The second concert by the student ensemble will take place at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Spencer Museum of Art. The ensemble will perform the post-modern music of Rzewski, Daugherty, Liebermann and Ter Veldhuis, showcasing a variety of musical styles that range from funk to rockabilly to the baroque.

There will be pre-performance discussions 45 minutes before both events, which are free and open to the public. For more information, call 864-3436.