It would seem that members of the College of Music鈥檚 Tak谩cs Quartet don鈥檛 need any help creating a dynamic and engaging musical ambience.
The musicians of the world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning ensemble are widely recognized for their musical qualifications and achievements. Violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O鈥橬eill and cellist Andr谩s Fej茅r are all veterans of the international classical music scene; and all four of them鈥攁rtists-in-residence at our college鈥攔egularly perform for audiences worldwide, holding their own on the most prestigious, storied stages.
Even so, the quartet is committed to collaborating with others to make their performances extra special, particularly in our local community.
鈥淲e love playing for our home crowd in Boulder,鈥� says Rhodes, who recently returned from a busy, international tour with the quartet. 鈥淭he energy in the concert hall is a huge part of our music making. Audience members might not always realize this, but they are actively contributing to what is happening on stage.听
鈥淗aving a 鈥榟ome鈥� audience of loyal Tak谩cs fans is a huge honor and when we hear the buzz of conversation among friends in the hall, it makes the concert experience more than just about the music itself. It鈥檚 about the relationships formed through the shared love of music.鈥�
Nurturing and drawing inspiration from those relationships is a major focus for the quartet as they look to 2023. Coming up on Jan. 8 and 9, they will perform Haydn鈥檚 String Quartet Op. 77 No. 2, Beethoven鈥檚 String Quartet Op. 132 and Fanny Mendelssohn鈥檚 String Quartet in E-flat Major. These concerts will celebrate several milestones for the group, including the release of new and recordings, and the publication of Dusinberre鈥檚 new book,
The January concerts will also signify a new push from the quartet to deepen and expand its relationships with fans. Beginning in 2023, the Tak谩cs Quartet鈥檚 new CU Series will allocate 16 free tickets for each Monday night concert to engage new audience members.
鈥淥ver the summer, I spoke with our friends and colleagues at the College of Music and CU Presents about how we can continue to serve our loyal patrons alongside cultivating relationships with possible new audience members, especially young music students in our community,鈥� Rhodes explains. 鈥淭he opportunity to grow our audience is exciting to us鈥攁nd we think engaging with young musicians in our local community is a beautiful place to start.鈥�
Reaching out to young musicians isn鈥檛 a new priority for the quartet, now entering its 48th season. Most recently, Tak谩cs members worked closely with members of youth orchestras to instill a sense of engagement and investment in orchestral music among young local musicians. In September, the quartet invited alumna Emily Bowman鈥攁rtistic director of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras鈥攁nd 16 of her students to attend one of the ensemble鈥檚 Monday night performances.听
鈥淲e loved having them in the audience and talking with them afterwards,鈥� says Rhodes. 鈥淭heir observations, comments, impressions and questions were full of curiosity and insight鈥攁nd their presence in the hall added a joyful energy to the concert.鈥�
Such efforts are slated to continue. The quartet has invited Boulder Suzuki Strings Executive Director Amy Gesmer-Packman and 16 of her students to attend their concert on Jan. 9. And In March and April, the quartet will welcome Executive Director of the Colorado Music Festival Elizabeth McGuire and Center for Musical Arts Education Director Kathy Kucsan, along with 16 students, to join the audience.
Alongside her individual work with Boulder Suzuki Strings, the GBYO chamber music ensembles and students from the Colorado Music Festival Young Musicians Seminar, Rhodes says such community engagement activities add deeper meaning and impact to the quartet鈥檚 performances.
Indeed, it鈥檚 part of what makes playing at CU Boulder unique for a group of musicians that鈥檚 welcomed with open arms in classical music venues around the world. For all the excitement and glamor that comes with traveling nationally and internationally, there鈥檚 something special about returning home.
