On Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building Auditorium, the Quartetto Gelato performed. They came in with the first sold out show for this year’s season and left with a standing ovation.
Before their concert, they held a masterclass, giving students an opportunity to meet them and ask questions. During their masterclass they went over how they arrange pieces for their unique instrumentation. They gave a demonstration by using a piece from an University of Idaho music student’s own composition as an example of how they arrange together.
They played a variety of songs, showcasing each instrument and the musician’s talent. They played their own arrangement of “Country Roads, Take Me Home” that had the crowd singing along.
“It was very beautiful, and I enjoyed every part of it. My favorite part that they played was the piece called ‘Song for the Mira.’ I’d recommend it, ” said music student Mazy Duyck.
The ensemble consists of Colin Maier on the oboe, saw and vocals; Dobrochna Zubek on the cello; Konstantin Popovic on violin and vocals; and Matti Pulkii on the accordion. They are a classical quartet, who experiment with their own tastes in music to bring together songs of their own arrangements to perform.
They sell out performances and are known worldwide. They won “Debut Artist of the Year” for their first DVD and were also honored as Best Classical Ensemble at the 2012 INDIE Awards. They are also famous for Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk having brought a DVD of their music to outer space to be played.
They mix their energy, humor and talent together to create a unique sound in their performances. Their most recent release is their album “Tasty Tunes” that was released in 2021 with 13 songs for listeners to enjoy.
The ACMS works with UI to bring world-class musicians to campus, giving the opportunity for people in the Palouse to listen to high quality classical music live. ACMS brings musicians to workshop with students on campus before their performances, providing insight and inspiration. ACMS started in 1986 and has been providing UI with four concerts every season.
ACMS will post updates on their website about next year’s season, and who they will be bringing for the next four concerts.
Shelby Sandford can be reached at [email protected]