Earl Coleman, the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music vocal professor, jokes that he tries to schedule himself as the first faculty concert artist of the year.

“I want to get it over with,” he says in his signature deep voice.

But seriously, he has eight students he has to get ready to perform their degree (or senior) recitals this year.

“My voice is fresher because I haven’t used it,” he said. “I can concentrate (on the program) during the summer. ”

Every faculty member is encouraged to present one concert during the school year, and most are free.

Coleman, who will be accompanied by collaborative pianist Yien Wang, said both of them are rested after the summer.

In fact, after choosing the program, Coleman began rehearsing with Wang in June. In July, Wang left for the month to visit her native China and get married. She and her husband, Tao Ge, were legally married at the Columbus courthouse 18 months ago, but their parents insisted they go home for a marriage ceremony, she said, laughing. She said it was time for a visit anyway since Ge hadn’t been back for six years and Yien hadn’t visited in three years.

Wang came back to Columbus a week or so ago, and started rehearsing with Coleman almost immediately.

Coleman and Wang have worked together for four years.

“It’s always inspiring working with Earl,” Wang said.

Coleman relies on Wang’s ear to make sure he’s hitting all the right notes. He says he cannot hear himself sing, so she’s very important.

They’ll perform an hour-long program with no intermission and no encore, Coleman said.

Why no encore? “Because the program is so long and difficult,” he said.

It’s also a difficult program for Wang.

They’ll be joined by CSU trumpet professor Robert Murray for “The Trumpet Shall Sound” by Handel.

“Rob’s a real specialist on Baroque trumpet,” Coleman said. “It will be my first time working with Rob.”

The Robert Schumann cycle, “From Leiderkreise, Opus 39,” was a piece Wang had always wanted to play, and Coleman had not sung since 1984.

Schumann himself had called this cycle the most romantic music he’d ever written. It was written for the love of his life, Clara.

The final piece, “Five Mystical Songs” is by Ralph Vaughan Williams. “These are spiritual songs, but Vaughan Williams was an agnostic. It premiered in 1911, so it’s 100 years old.”

So what exactly is a song cycle?

Coleman said it’s “a group of songs around a certain theme.” Schumann’s is about love and Vaughan Williams’ is about spirituality, Coleman said.

Schumann’s cycle has 10 songs and Vaughan Williams’ cycle has five songs.