Auditorium Chamber Music Series brings enriching performances to UI
Tuesday nights are not commonly the nights your average college student remembers for the rest of their lives. Tuesday nights mostly consist of homework, and maybe laundry if you’re feeling really inspired. But now, thanks to the Auditorium Chamber Music Series, a Tuesday night might turn out to be an enriching experience for University of Idaho students.
Genie Tran | Rawr
The Atlantic Brass Quintet performs at the Auditorium Chamber Music Series Tuesday in the Administration Building.
The Auditorium Chamber Music Series brings musical groups from all over the world to the Palouse each year to bring both entertainment and culture to the community. The program is sponsored by multiple local businesses, along with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Western States Arts Federation. ACMS hosts performances of musical ensembles from all walks of life, all musical backgrounds and all geographical locations.
ACMS Director Mary DuPree has been organizing and sharing this event with UI for nearly three decades. When asked how she chooses which ensembles to feature in each year’s line-up, DuPree gave a series of criteria.
First, she said it is vital each group come highly recommended.
“We strive to bring the UI community the highest caliber of classical musicians,” DuPree said. “This often means that they have a great performance reputation throughout the world.”
Variety is also a key component in ensuring ACMS provides a fulfilling experience to campus each year. This includes musical style and different geographical origins. Each performance has its own cultural value and personality.
“This year features groups of all types, including brass, a cappella, even a solo pianist,” she said. “This year we have two groups coming from Germany.”
It’s true — this year’s line-up presents extreme variety. It includes the Atlantic Brass Quintet, the Jupiter String Quartet, solo pianist Anton Nel, and German groups the Morgenstern Trio and an a cappella group, the Calmus Ensemble.
In addition, the musicians who visit the Palouse for ACMS must also be willing to share their experience and performance prowess with local music students. This gives students the opportunity to get all they can out of the musician’s visit. DuPree said chances for students to take away new knowledge and experience are a vital component of ACMS.
Beyond benefitting UI’s music students, DuPree said ACMS is an opportunity everyone in the community should seize.
“Moscow is pretty isolated,” she said. “The music series brings in an excellent taste of culture from the outside.”
When asked what advice she would give to students and community members who are debating to attend this year’s music series, DuPree said she encourages students to stray away from their typical Tuesday evening routines.
“When I was in college and I needed to get my nose out of my books I attended random philosophy seminars,” she said. “Those seminars, like the Auditorium Chamber Music Series, could be engaging — even life-changing.”
Next performance:
The next performance is the Morgenstern Trio at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the right wing of the Administration Building.
General admission is $22, and student admission is $10. Tickets are available both on the university website and at the door.
Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected]