By Jordan Stenger |Staff writer
The Garth Newel Piano Quartet presented their musical performance at Augusta University’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on Friday evening, Jan. 12, 2018.Based out of the Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, Virginia, the Piano Quartet are artists-in-residence of the Garth Newel Music Center. They play over 50 concerts a year while traveling and performing nationwide. Friday’s show was presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society and opened by the Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School’s orchestra from Richmond County.Events like this encourage variety and give up-and-coming musicians a chance to perform on a larger stage.“They cater to an underrepresented crowd a platform to shine and grow,” said Taylor Mitchell, a former student of Augusta University.The Garth Newel Piano Quartet followed the Davidson orchestra with three pieces featuring music written by composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.According to Daon Drisdom, a former student at Augusta University, events like the one on Friday are key to making sure that chamber music is able to keep its role as a fundamental part of society.“Musical events like this keep the treasure of chamber music through the styles alive,” said Daon Drisdom, a former student at AU.The Piano Quartet also held a master class with the Davidson Fine Arts School to give students an opportunity to work and learn from professional musicians.“It's really inspiring to spend time with young people who are so enthusiastic and committed,” stated Teresa Ling, Violinist of the Piano Quartet.Jeannette Fang, Pianist for the Quartet, hopes the audience was moved and felt a connection to the emotions portrayed in their music. “So often we live in a bubble,” Fang said. “And we need that connection.” Contact jstenger@augusta.edu