Together with the Fort Collins Lincoln Center, CSU’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance presents the innovative chamber group Classical Jam, the seventh installment in the new Classical Convergence Concert Series, on Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Griffin Concert Hall at the University Center for the Arts at 1400 Remington Street.
This new series features traditional classical solo artists and chamber ensembles, and it explores the new projects and concepts continually branching out of the genre.
Expert execution and interpretation is a hallmark of any great classical group, but what audiences find with Classical Jam is that and so much more. Known for their sparkling style and creative concert programs, Classical Jam presents wide-ranging repertoire, including traditional classical works and exciting improvisations, as well as original compositions by group members.
As part of the new co-produced Classical Convergence Series between the University Center for the Arts and the Lincoln Center, Classical Jam takes the stage at CSU with an innovative concert line-up. Building on the classical concert programs of both organizations, the inaugural season has also included award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, as well as pianist Jeremy Denk, Mother Falcon, the Borromeo String Quartet, Orchid Ensemble, and the Mendelssohn Trio.
“The series allows us to thoroughly examine the intersection of world-class performers and our community, creating intimate experiences that allow for real interaction with these artists,” said Jack Rogers, general manager for the Lincoln Center.
Classical Jam’s April 4 program, titled “From the Street to the Concert Hall,” examines how composers throughout history have incorporated their unique heritages, rhythms of their cultures, and what was considered “popular” during their lifetimes into concert music. Works by Mozart, Bartok, Piazzolla, and Gershwin will be featured.
Much of Classical Jam’s focus centers around arts advocacy and outreach to communities. In addition to their concert at CSU, the ensemble will spend time in residency with CSU students.
According to the Classical Jam website, arts advocacy is about “artists cultivating their audiences by communicating on levels that transcend the page and the stage. Classical Jam aims to build relationships with audiences outside the concert hall through collaborations with fellow artists, presenters and concertgoers alike.”
Residency activities
Residency activities at the University Center for the Arts include:
Open Master Classes
4 – 6 p.m. Friday, April 3
Free and open to public observation
LEAP Lecture: Creating a Chamber Ensemble
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, Runyan Rehearsal Hall, free and open to the public
Improvisation Lecture
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, April 4
Free and open to public observation
Tickets
Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for the public. Tickets are available at the Lincoln Center box office at 417 West Magnolia Street, by phone at (970) 221-6730, or online. Tickets may also be purchased at the door at the University Center for the Arts (UCA). The ticket office in the UCA lobby opens 90 minutes prior to any UCA performance and through intermission.
More about Classical Jam
As a chamber ensemble, Classical Jam aims to develop a more personal relationship among audiences, performers, and composers by inviting audiences to share in the process of creation and discovery.
Classical Jam concerts range from subscription concert series and concerto appearances with orchestras to in-school concerts, bringing the highest caliber of music to a diverse range of audiences.
Highlights from this year’s concert season include performances at Impromptu Concerts, in Key West, Fla.; Tenri Arts Center in New York City; the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, Mich.; The Hong Kong Sinfonietta; The Longy School of Music in Boston; New York University Recital Series in New York City; The Tuba Bach Festival in Big Rapids, Mich.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; Rockport Music in Rockport, Mass.; and the Lincoln Center Neighborhood Concert Series in New York City.
The Classical Convergence Series
The 2014-15 season marks the beginning of a partnership between the Colorado State University Department of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Fort Collins Lincoln Center with the launch of the Classical Convergence Concert Series. The series features traditional classical solo artists and chamber ensembles, while further exploring the full spectrum of the classical music genre.
