New concert series provides live music during the pandemic

Jonathan Ehlers was walking around Utah State University’s Logan campus on Wednesday night when he heard some music. Intrigued, he followed the sound until he stumbled upon the new outdoor concert series. Ehlers, a new transfer student at Utah State University, was amazed that classical music was being performed outdoors.

And he loved it.

Ehlers wasn’t alone. Attendance at Wednesday’s event almost doubled from the previous week’s number — from 50 to just under 100 people — and a lot of the attendees were those who, like Ehlers, stumbled across the event.

Utah State’s Caine College of the Arts started the outdoor series at the beginning of the fall semester in an attempt to help music majors meet all requirements for graduation and to provide them with opportunities to perform in front of their peers.

“It’s beautiful to hear the music and see the mountains in the background,” Ehlers said as he watched piano majors perform.​

Eliza Van Leuven, a piano major, said all music majors must attend 10 concert performances each semester, a total of 80 before graduation. But Van Leuven loved that not only music majors were in attendance.

“I think it’s nice that people can just hear the music as they walk by,” she said.

Many performers said they loved performing outside as well. ​

“I liked performing outside​," said Megan Warberton, a faculty member teaching voice lessons. "It’s a fun atmosphere that’s less formal.”

That informality may help draw students who would otherwise be scared away by concert etiquette.

“This is way more relaxed and it fits a lot better with the younger generation,”​ said Elizabeth Christensen, who attended the concert on Wednesday​.

Michael Palmer, the director of technical operations, was optimistic that this outdoor series will continue even after concert halls are more accessible.

“It’s something we enjoy doing​," he said. "I think the performers enjoy performing outside. One of the hard things for musicians is adjusting to different performance venues and this gives them another opportunity to practice.”

The series will continue throughout the semester every Wednesday night at 7 p.m.​ on the west side of the engineering building, weather permitting.