Fairfax Chamber Ensemble Brings Brahms to UUCF

continued its concert series Feb. 18 with a show from the Fairfax Chamber Ensemble.

The sextet — consisting of two violins, a viola, a cello, a clarinet and a piano — performed three pieces for an audience that UUCF music director Mark Vogel predicted exceeded the series' attendance record.

"I saw a lot of people who are not members of this church," said Vogel, who also plays piano for the Fairfax Chamber Ensemble. "I think we each brought our own supporters, then add in members from the church and people from the community, and we've got a great crowd."

The ensemble performed pieces from Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann and Sergie Prokofiev. The latter features all six musicians, a rarity in chamber music, in a piece called "Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34."

The free concert had a suggested donation of $10 to $15, with proceeds benefitting the Daniel Pearl Foundation. Named for the journalist who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002, the foundation seeks to "promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communications," according to its mission statement.

For each concert in the series, UUCF asks the performer which charity should benefit from the donation. Vogel said Helen Fall, violist for the ensemble, suggested the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

"We all thought it was a great idea, and it certainly fits with the mission of UUCF," Vogel said. "The Daniel Pearl Foundation seeks to achieve cross-cultural understanding through music. And the universal language of music can do that."

The group itself crosses cultures, as violinist is a native German.

"We sit down for rehearsal, we already know what we're talking about because we've been trained in the same tradition in different countries. So we are speaking the same language," said Tim Anderson, clarinetist. "That's true for any two musicians who sit down to play together."

Cellist Jeff Van Osten is the newest member of the ensemble, playing in front of an audience for the first time with this group at the Feb. 18 show, but the audience seemed unaware the Van Osten had only practiced with the group a handful of times.

"You wouldn't know it. They play beautifully together," said Deborah Larson, Van Osten's student, who was enjoying the performance with her husband Bill.

Bill Larson said he joins his wife for many shows because of his wife's interest, but this one brought something different to the table.

"We see a lot of string quartets, but adding the woodwind in there makes things really interesting," Larson's husband Bill said.

But the audience was made up of more than just chamber music regulars. Philip Rosato, a Catholic priest who teaches at Georgetown Preparatory School and attends church with Anderson, came to support his friend and found the experience rewarding.

"I attend operas at the concert hall, but I haven't been to see chamber music too much," Rosato said. "To hear this music live, to actually see musicians working with their instruments, is extraordinary."

And the intimate setting, with just a few players, is what the musicians like, as well.

"I think most of us are more exposed playing in a group like this," Vogel said. "Our individual lines come out more, kind of as if you're a featured soloist. If you're playing in an orchestra, individually you get lost a little bit."

Madison Singers, James Madison University's premier vocal ensemble, will continue the UUCF series, performing at 7:30 p.m. March 19.