The Fry Street Quartet (FSQ), Utah State University’s string quartet in residence, along with USU piano faculty, have created a fun and inspiring week, July 15-20, of music festivals dedicated to music-making and collaboration.
“A typical daily schedule for the festivals includes coaching, rehearsals and sessions ranging from instrumental and chamber music masterclasses to lecture demonstrations,” Emily Ezola, Caine College of the Arts piano faculty and half of the Ezola/Olson Piano Duo, said. “Students also receive private lessons from members of the Fry Street Quartet and piano faculty.”
The festival student participants come from all over Utah and surrounding states, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. During the week, students will have the opportunity to attend concerts and perform in several venues themselves, including the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall and the Logan Tabernacle.
“Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities like kayaking in First Dam,” Ezola said. “We’ll have an amazing week sharing our beautiful campus and town with the festival participants.”
The Fry Street Quartet will perform on Monday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m, in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall with Brant Bayless, principal violist of the Utah Symphony.
The Ezola/Olson Duo performs in a unique, multimedia concert experience Tuesday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m., in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall with Myles Howell (stone carver), Chuck Landvatter (illustrator) and Cahill Smith (piano). Sculptures and illustrations will be auctioned following the concert.
The Fry Street Quartet & Friends featuring Brant Bayless, Craig Trompeter (cello) and Frank Weinstock (piano), perform at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 18, in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall.
Friday, July 19, features a masterclass with Cahill Smith, assistant professor of piano and piano area coordinator in the Caine College of the Arts, from 9:15-11:30 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Logan and a performance from the String Festival Students at noon in the Logan Tabernacle.
The Piano and String Ensemble students will perform Saturday, July 20, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall.
All events during the festival are free and open to the public.
For more information, go online to https://music.usu.edu/frystreetcmf/concerts.