More than 30 years of tradition continues as the first of the semester’s 10 free Thursday afternoon concerts premiered in the performing arts building on Sept. 29. The lights were dim, the room was full and ready to welcome the melodic music into the audience’s ears.
This week’s concert featured classical music from different historical periods and countries. The show highlighted instruments like the oboe played by Rong-Huey Liu, piano played by her sister Vivian I-Miao Liu, and on the cello Vivian I-Miao Liu’s husband Robert Vos.
This was a family affair for the musicians, and their first time playing together for an audience.
“There’s almost no repertoire for this combination in the baroque period,” Rong-Huey Liu said.
Each piece was accompanied by educational interactions with the audience. Rong-Huey Liu shared history and knowledge about the instruments and composers of each piece.
“That was great because usually they perform and they leave,” Kristen Sharp, child development major said. “I think people need to open and broaden their horizons for music.”
The ASO-sponsored-event will be every Thursday, discounting Thanksgiving Day, at 12:45 p.m. in PBA 3500, and is open to the public. Professor James Bergman is hosting the weekly concerts and lining up a variety of music.
“I try to get a selection of different stuff, a lot of variety. Classical music is not one thing and jazz isn’t just one thing,” Bergman said. “It’s something that you can experience, share, and you can even do yourself if you really get into it.”
ASO is hoping to bring the music closer to the students.
“We did ask if there would be a possibility of them doing one or two concerts a year down here on the mall, or the Great Hall, or maybe the park,” ASO President Barbara Lombrano said. “There are students that don’t take any classes up there, but they would then be exposed to it more.”
Students can take a relaxing break away from the books on Thursday afternoons, and find themselves indulging in music right on their own campus.
“It’s fun to introduce classical music to the students, they’re not all music majors but they’re learning music,” Vivian I-Miao Liu said.
