Nicholas Kraemer conducts the Fry Street Quartet, USU Chamber Singers, Chamber Orchestra
LOGAN – Utah State University’s Fry Street Quartet will perform with guest conductor, Nicholas Kraemer, the USU Chamber Singers, Chamber Orchestra and assistant professors Braun Khan (bass) and Errik Hood (baritone) Saturday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Daines Concert Hall on the Logan campus.
Kraemer is principal guest conductor of Music of the Baroque, Chicago. He previously held positions such as artistic director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, London Bach Orchestra and Bath Festival music program. He was the first music director of Opera 80, now the English Touring Opera. Appearing worldwide with many prestigious ensembles, Kraemer has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic and more. He has contributed to several feature films, most notably as Baroque music director for The Madness of King George.
“Nicholas has conducted and performed all around the globe and it’s an incredible privilege for our students to work with him so intensively for the weeks he is in residence here,” Anne Francis Bayless, associate professor in the Caine College of the Arts and cellist in the Fry Street Quartet, said. “While he has conducted ensembles from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Chicago Symphony, he also really enjoys working with young people, which is why we knew he would be delighted at our invitation. For students, working with a conductor of this caliber is a once in a lifetime experience. While Nicholas is very demanding, he is also kind and supportive and has a great sense of humor.”
Francis said this concert’s program brings together students and faculty who would not ordinarily get many chances to collaborate.
“It’s really fun for our string students to get to perform with the fabulous USU Chamber Singers, not to mention Errik Hood as soloist,” Francis Bayless said. “The FSQ and Braun Khan will also step onstage with the chamber orchestra for the final work on the program, Bartok’s Divertimento.”
The audience members who are followers of the FSQ will hear a clear tie to the Bartok Cycle the quartet is preparing to present in November.
The concert features music from Handel, Bach, Dvořák and Bartók.
“Everyone is excited to perform in our newly renovated Daines Concert Hall,” Francis Bayless said. “It sounds absolutely fantastic!”
Tickets for the concert are $10 adults, $8 seniors/youth, $5 USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information and tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.
