We’ve reached that weird point in the winter – the holidays are over and there’s not a lot going on, just the grind of cold weather and early nightfall.
And still no live shows.
But, Jan. 15, you can catch a virtual classical music show from your living room, courtesy of 3rd Ave. Arts, which will present “Kaleidoscopes,” the next performance of its Concerts on the Couch series.
“Kaleidoscopes” will feature pieces by French and Russian composers Mélanie Bonis, César Cui and Gabriel Fauré, and will be performed by flutist Kathryn Shaffer, violinist Tennille Taylor and pianist Kristen Chen.
To access the show, patrons should purchase their tickets at https://bit.ly/2Xlrswk. The concert link and a program will be sent mid-afternoon on the day of the show, and patrons will have at least a week to watch, said C. Scott Hagler, executive director of 3rd Ave. Arts. He added that if patrons intend to watch the show after its initial viewing, they still must purchase tickets by the concert’s start time, otherwise, they won’t be able to access it because ticket sales will be closed.
The musicians performing in “Kaleidoscopes” are:
Kristen Chen was born in San Jose, California, and was involved in various musical activities from choirs to orchestras, the most significant being her study of the piano. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Biola University and continued her studies at San Jose State University, earning her master’s degree in Piano Performance. Chen began teaching young piano students in 1987 and is a certified Suzuki piano instructor. In addition to teaching, she has been active in performing in chamber music concerts in the Four Corners and is a violist with the San Juan Symphony.Kathryn Shaffer, flute, is currently in her 13th season with the San Juan Symphony. She also performs with Music in the Mountains, the Durango Bach Festival, Durango Chamber Music Festival and solo recitals. She recently performed an award-winning new composition at the College Music Society conference, working with composer Heather Gilligan. She teaches flute at Fort Lewis College and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in flute performance. Tennille Taylor is from Farmington and began playing violin at age 6. She completed her Bachelor of Music at Arizona State University in Music Therapy, where she studied violin with Dr. Frank Spinosa. She completed long-term Suzuki Pedagogy training with Susan Kempter at University of New Mexico. Taylor has owned and operated Tennille’s Violin House Suzuki Studio in Farmington since 2004. She is principal second violin of San Juan Symphony and has played with the symphony since 2001.For now, 3rd Ave. Arts is offering a full slate of virtual concerts, with the annual Durango Bach Festival up next, the week of March 7 to 13. Hagler said shows are virtual for the near future, and even when live shows are allowed again a hybrid model may have to do for those who may be hesitant to get back into crowds.
“We’re committed through the season. I had people in May who were like, ‘What if we can get back together?’” he said. “We still have to record it because not everybody’s going to be ready to just jump in when we say. I’m hoping and praying that by the fall we can be back together in person. But even then, if you’re in the compromised category, do you think people are going to want to just all of a sudden jump into big groups? I’m unclear about that myself.”
And while we may have to wait a while to get back to in-person shows, Hagler said there are reasons for audiences – and musicians – to keep watching and performing, even if it’s still virtual for now.
“It’s two things: The audience members need the soul-filling properties of music. And the musicians need to keep performing; they’ve got to keep practicing; everybody wants to keep their skills up and keep the creativity flowing, so there’s this symbiotic relationship between the audience and the performers,” he said. “And, of course, most performers have taken a pretty hefty hit financially, so this is a way we can continue to support the musicians in the area.”
katie@durangoherald.com
To watch
What:
3rd Ave. Arts presents “Kaleidoscopes.”
When:
7 p.m. Jan. 15.
Where:
Online.
Tickets:
$5-$20, available online at
.
More information:
Visit
.
Note:
Ticket sales close at the posted concert start time. Purchase your tickets by then, no matter when you intend to listen.
