The University's McIntire Department of Music wrapped up its Chamber Music Festival Sunday. Instead of sprinkling various chamber performances throughout the year, the department consolidated four performances into one week-long festival, making January an unusually eventful month for music.
"The month of January is the slowest time usually for concerts so it's the perfect opportunity [to have a festival]," Festival Director Ayn Balija said.
Because each of the event's four concerts presented different instrumental groupings and styles, the festival also provided much-needed musical variety to a month which typically offers none.
The wide range of pieces performed throughout the festival was nothing short of incredible. Each show highlighted the awe-inspiring talent of the University faculty and the magnificent art they can produce. While some students may shy away from so-called "classical music," these concerts provided enough diversity of sound to satisfy any listener.
"The idea of string players or orchestral players being in this small box of highfalutin type of music is so off base," Balija said. "If you enjoy listening and just transporting yourself to a different time, just lost in your thoughts, that's what this type of music can give you."
Opening the festival Friday, Jan. 27, the Rivanna String Quartet wowed the audience with stunning performances of Beethoven, Britten and Dvorak.
A dynamic brass-filled concert Sunday followed this thrilling quartet performance. The Albemarle Ensemble brought the festival's third concert Feb. 3, a pitch-perfect program of Bach, Barber and Bozza, among other greats. Concluding the festival the following Sunday, violinist David Sariti, flautist Kelly Sulick and pianist John Mayhood performed striking selections from Schulhoff, Schumann and the University's own Judith Shatin, to name a few.
Balija said the festival, which reached all types of audiences, had been many months in the making.
"I had everybody's ideas, and we picked out all the repertoire before the summer," she said.
Since the selection process, the performing musicians have put in hundreds of hours of practice and preparation for the festival. Without the work of these powerful performers and the department as a whole, Balija said the event never could have happened.
"I have to say the music department has been a godsend in helping me," Balija said. "Richard Will [the chair of the music department] was so supportive of giving me anything I needed."
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