The 1997-98 Series featured such noted groups as the Arden Trio, the Alexander Quartet, the Angeles Quartet, the Paris Piano Trio, the Borromeo Quartet, the Parisii Quartet, and the Artis Quartet. For an area with very limited access to musicians, residencies are essential to our cultural life. In fact, our outreach efforts have made it apparent that there is a significant need throughout our school system for music education development and enrichment, particularly in string and keyboard instruments. Part of the Sun Valley Center's ongoing mission is to fill the need for music education that we in fact create by bringing groups into the schools.
Students can also receive free tickets to the Series concerts themselves.
The free Kids' Concerts are presented on Saturday mornings, on the same day as Series concerts. Each one features both the visiting Series ensemble and young musicians from the area, giving children the chance to interact with world-class musicians as well as hear local performers their own age. The effect is often poignant, as when two young violinists made their recital debuts following the Parisii Quartet's own reminiscing about their first recitals as children. As the young violinists took their first steps as performers, the children in the audience could see that even great artists had to start somewhere. Our Kids' Concerts have sometimes turned into mini-masterclasses as well.