Musicians and hairstyles go hand in hand. For example, the 80s rock band, Poison, was known for their luscious locks. This weekend students can get up close and personal with the hair of famous composer, Ludwig van Beethoven.

The music of Beethoven, famous German composer and pianist, comes to Albion College for a special three-day engagement.

Beethoven’s music is potentially accompanied by a strand of his hair. This year is the 180th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, and the hair provided information that leads scientists to believe that Beethoven was killed by lead poisoning.

This weekend, the Albion music department will be hosting The Beethoven Festival of Music, a three day celebration of the life of Beethoven. The strand of Beethoven’s hair and the discovery of his death by lead poisoning prompted the festival to be co-sponsored by the chemistry and biology departments together with the pre-medical institute.

The idea for the festival was first developed by music faculty members, Lia Jensen and David Abbott.

"It started out as just another opportunity for students to perform and a few students were assigned a Beethoven piece," Jensen said. "The word got out, and more students wanted to learn a string quartet and be involved with it."

Once the festival began to grow, organizers talked of having the movie, "Beethoven’s Hair," shown at the festival. "Beethoven’s Hair" is a documentary with inter-disciplinary possibilities on causes of the composer’s death based on hair sample analysis.

Abbott mentioned the idea to the late David Green, retired Albion professor of chemistry. Green was a former colleague with scientist Bill Walsh, chief researcher on the forensic studies for the specimens of Beethoven’s hair.

According to Abbott, Walsh has given his time to make the visit to Albion’s campus for the Beethoven festival as his own tribute to the late Green. According to Jensen Walsh will most likely bring one of Beethoven’s hairs with him. Walsh will also be speaking Saturday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. in Bobbitt Auditorium.

"This is one of the biggest highlights of the weekend, and it is really exciting for the music department as well as the science department," Jensen said. "It kind of puts Albion on the map, and we are so proud of what [the festival] has turned into."

According to Jensen, the students are playing a large role in the Beethoven festival. During the festival, the students will perform with faculty members, which is a rare occasion at larger music schools.

"Larger music schools would not allow students and faculty members to play alongside one another," Jensen said. "Our students are very capable of playing with us, and this is something that is very big and exciting for both students and faculty."

Lisa Shanks, Northville junior, is one of the students involved with the Beethoven festival. Shanks is a pianist in the Beethoven series and will be playing the second movement of Beethoven’s "Sonata Opus 90."

"As well as a music education major, I am also a performer," Shanks said. "When my piano teacher, David Abbott, first told me about the series the music department was going to have, I was really excited. There’s nothing better than sharing beautiful music with people."

In addition to practicing about two hours a day, Shanks, along with fellow performer, Alyssa Wong, Hong Kong junior, designed T-shirts to promote and advertise for the concerts. The shirts will be available to purchase throughout the weekend.

Carmen Weddell, Farmington senior, is another student involved with the Beethoven festival. Weddell will be performing a movement from Beethoven’s "Concerto No. 3 Opus 37" with the orchestra and is very excited about the upcoming Beethoven weekend.

"I’m looking forward to going to the Friday and Saturday concerts because several of my friends are playing piano sonatas and are in chamber ensembles," Weddell said.

The Beethoven festival will combine forensic science, music and film, and will also bring together the science and music departments of Albion College.

"The fun part about [the festival] is that we didn’t expect it to grow to these proportions, but it is really great that it did," Jensen said. "It is really great to be able to incorporate music and science, and it is rare to have this kind of collaboration. We are all really excited about it."