Working with the premise that there is no such thing as too much chamber music, Leslie Harlow has been actively involved in increasing the number of chamber music concerts that take place throughout the year in northern Utah. The founder and co-director of the Park City International Music Festival – as well as the Autumn Classics Music Festival and the Park City Film Music Festival – Harlow has begun collaborating with Utah Valley University to offer a series of concerts in early spring.
The fledgling Spring Chamber Music Festival, now in its second season, runs April 8-13 and offers four concerts featuring a wide repertoire of works played by Harlow and her husband, Utah Symphony clarinetist Russell Harlow, along with members of the UVU music faculty: violinist Donna Fairbanks, violist Elizabeth Wallace, clarinetist Matthew Nelson and hornist Jeb Wallace. “The music department at UVU has been expanding rapidly and they’ve had to add more faculty,” Leslie Harlow said. “They have some really good players and I’m happy that (the four) can play with us.” She added that the music faculty maintains an active concert schedule. “They’re busy. They have a strong performing faculty and they’re all hard working.”
Joining this group will be three visiting artists who are well known to everyone who follows the summer festival in Park City: violinist Rebekah Johnson, cellist Tom Landschoot and pianist Doris Stevenson. “I’m so glad they could come,” Harlow said. “This is a real busy time for everyone, so we’re lucky to have them.”
While the three guest artists are in town for the festival, they will also be in residence at UVU where they will hold master classes, coach and work with the students. “They have some really good student groups, and this will benefit them immensely,” Harlow said. “And having these performers in residence helps validate the music program at the school and gives it some needed exposure.”
At noon on April 8, the first day of the festival, people can come to UVU’s Ragan Theater and sit in on the master class and later in the day hear both the student string and woodwind groups perform. “This is a big day for the students and a great opportunity for everyone to attend student recitals and hear them play.”
In the evening, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a free concert featuring most of the faculty members as well as the guest artists. On the program is Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet, op. 44; Bohuslav Martinu’s Serenade for Two Clarinets, Violin, Viola and Cello; and Felix Mendelssohn’s Konzertstück for Clarinet, Basset Horn and Piano, op. 113. “This is going to be a flashy, sweet and colorful concert,” Harlow said. “You have the romantic Schumann quintet, a piece by Martinu that’s not done much, and you get the chance to hear the basset horn, which Matt plays. And he and Russ sound so well together on this piece.”
Harlow said the entire festival is filled with musical highlights. “On (April 10), there is the Mozart Horn Quintet and the next day we’re doing some beautiful solo pieces, and Russ will play a gorgeous arrangement of a Chopin nocturne.
“There really is something for everyone, and you’ll get the chance to hear some exceptional chamber musicians.”
Tickets are available at the door. For further information log on to www.pcmusicfestival.com.
Below is the festival schedule:
April 8, 12 p.m., Ragan Theater, Utah Valley University, free: Master Class with visiting artists.
April 8, 3 p.m., Ragan Theater, free: University String Groups in Performance.
April 8, 5 p.m., Ragan Theater, free: University Woodwind Groups in Performance.
April 8, 7:30 p.m., Ragan Theater, free: Concert – Schumann, Piano Quintet, op. 44; Martinu, Serenade for Two Clarinets, Violin, Viola and Cello; and Mendelssohn, Konzertstück for Clarinet, Basset Horn and Piano, op. 113.
April 9, 3 p.m. $30 donation: Spring Tea Salon Concert in a private Park City residence; for information and reservations e-mail the festival at chmusic@pcmusicfestival.com or call 435-649-5309.
April 10, 3 p.m., Temple Har Shalom, Park City, $20 general, $15 seniors and students, at the door: Concert – Mozart, Horn Quintet, K. 407; Mendelssohn, Konzertstück for Clarinet, Basset Horn and Piano, op. 113; Martinu, Serenade for Two Clarinets, Violin, Viola and Cello; and Schumann, Piano Quintet, op. 44.
April 11, 7:30 p.m., Park City Community Church, $20 general, $15 seniors and students, at the door: Concert – Dvorak, Terzetto for Two Violins and Viola; Mozart, Duo for Violin and Viola; Bach, solo violin pieces; Chopin, Nocturne; and Beethoven, Duo for Clarinet and Viola.
April 13, 7:30 p.m., UVU Wasatch Campus Commons, Heber City, free: Concert – Dvorak, Terzetto for Two Violins and Viola; Mozart, Duo for Violin and Viola; Bach, solo violin pieces; Chopin, Nocturne; and Beethoven, Duo for Clarinet and Viola.