Love is a friendship set to music.

The husband and wife team of composer Chinary Ung and his wife, viola player Susan, can be heard bringing that philosophy to life at the NIU Composers Concert tonight at 8 p.m. in the Music Building, Recital Hall.

Cambodian-born, later coming to the States when he was 22, Chinary has received many accolades including the honor of being the first American to receive the coveted international Grawemeyer Award in 1989, according to a news release. He also worked briefly for the NIU music faculty in the 1970s.

Susan, a former NIU student, first became interested in the viola after a collaboration with her husband on his first solo cello/viola piece, “Khse Buon,” and has since toured across the globe.

Also on the show includes a combination of undergraduate, graduate and faculty composers. The show will feature woodwinds, brass, steel pan and electro-acoustic music, according to a news release.

A lecture by Chinary Ung will precede the event at 6:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Both events are free.