The Friday Concert Series returns to Georgetown today with a new program of musical events.

Jose A. Bowen, Georgetown’s Thomas E. Caestecker Chair of usic, said the free concert series “will offer the Georgetown community an opportunity to hear world-class musicians on campus. As the musical arts program at Georgetown continues to grow, these types of cultural activities are important to share with the rest of the campus and community.”

The concerts will be held every Friday in McNeir Hall from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. throughout the fall semester and will include a variety of musical performances, including Celtic and Persian music, blue grass music, jazz and selections from Beethoven and Haydn.

All events are sponsored by Georgetown’s Art, Music and Theater Department and are free and open to the public.

Rachel Young, a cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra, will open the Friday Concert Series at Georgetown today in McNeir Hall.

Young has appeared as a soloist with the National Chamber Orchestra, the Peabody Symphony Orchestra and the New England Conservatory Chamber Orchestra. She has also performed at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the White House.

Kathryn Brake, a graduate of Julliard and the Peabody Institute will accompany Young. A master class will follow.

Associate Classics Professor, Alex Sens and his widely acclaimed bluegrass band, Virginia Blue, will perform Oct. 26.

Celtic music comes to Georgetown Nov. 2 with a performance by oonfire performs. The band, comprised of three Washington women, uses fiddles, flutes and dulcimers to create a Celtic sound. The Washington Post has called Moonfire “a fresh perspective on Celtic music.”

The Chakavak Ensemble brings Persian music based on the works of the poet Hafiz Nov. 9.

World-renowned concert pianist Alan Mandel is scheduled to appear Nov. 16. Mandel is currently a professor at American University and artistic director of the Washington Music Ensemble.

He will play contemporary and romantic American music. The New York Times has described his album, The Complete Piano Works of Charles Ives, as “historic.”

The Coolidge Quartet will perform selections from Beethoven and Haydn Nov. 30. The group is an award-winning, young, dynamic quartet. The quartet has won awards at both the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.

Closing out the schedule on Dec. 7 are the jazz groups from Bowens’ classes.