Story reposted with permission from The Times-Standard.
Tom Stone serves as Artistic Director of the Eureka Chamber Music Series. Tom says that “one of the wonderful things about Humboldt is that it’s full of creative and intelligent people.” Locals generate a lot of art, music and theater programming. This also makes for “audiences that are sophisticated and great.”
The series inhabits a special niche. It was founded about 30 years ago by Pearl and Bob Micheli, he an amateur violinist and her a music teacher. Retiring to this place they loved, remote and distant, they wanted to bring preeminent professional musicians from outside the area to perform for the community. (The Michelis have since passed away.)
Tom took over from Mrs. Micheli during Covid. A long-time professional violinist, Tom was known to the Eureka Chamber Music Series since he had performed here several times in the past.
His tenure has seen the development of education programs for students and community members. For example, this past season, a string quartet worked with students who were string players. The quartet rehearsed with the students in their respective classrooms over the course of a week, gathered them all together one night for a rehearsal and the next night played alongside 100 kids gathered at Eureka High School. Coming up in January, Imani Winds, a Grammy-winning wind quintet considered one of the world’s greatest chamber music groups, will come to town. Half a dozen educational events will take place around Humboldt County as part of their visit.
The economics of the arts are often difficult. It helps that chamber music involves small numbers of people, making it a lot less expensive to bring to town as opposed to, say, a 100-person orchestra. Economics also makes nonprofit status a normal organizational structure for groups like this. Classical music generally isn’t expected to make a profit, and ticket sales only cover a fraction of the costs. That means seeking donations and grants to fill in the gaps, which is enabled by having nonprofit status. The organization gratefully accepts donations, which can be made here: https://www.eurekachambermusic.org/support.
Tom was excited to talk about the organization’s upcoming inaugural Summer Music Festival, happening July 18-26. There will be nine events over eight days, including two free Sunday performances at Sequoia Park and Arcata Community Forest.
“If you’ve never been to a classical music concert, it will blow you away,” he said. “If you like music, you can walk into any of our concerts. It’s a universal human experience.”
And dress code? They don’t have no stinking dress code.
Opening night, July 18, promises to be “visceral and poignant,” Tom says. There will be works by Mendelssohn, an admittedly old dead guy and Elena Ruehr, who is very much alive and will participate throughout the festival. Tom believes this is a great night for someone who isn’t currently a classical music buff to dip their musical toes into classical waters. He invites you to attend and then projects confidence that you’ll choose to plug into additional nights.
Wednesday, July 22, includes a jam session at Septentrio Winery for musicians who play violin, viola, cello and double bass. The visiting festival participants and local musicians will play pieces by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Brahms.
Thursday, July 23, again features Ms. Ruehr, a world-renowned pianist and flute player, composer and MIT professor. This concert will include the world premiere of some of her new music, and she will speak about what inspires her to write music and the creative process.
July 24 provides lessons in the history of great violin making, including showing and playing a Stradivarius and several other impressive instruments.
These and the other indoor performances alternate between The Lutheran Church of Arcata and Calvary Lutheran Church in Eureka. Both boast excellent acoustics. Tickets can be purchased here: https://eureka-chamber-music-series.square.site/.
The organization seeks volunteers who perform tasks like helping out with production and performances and pursuing sponsorships. They are also on the lookout for board members, people passionate about the work to promote live music in Humboldt County.
But the most important thing, Tom says, is to attend an event.
“This is music for all of us, world-class music for $40 a ticket. It’s great to unplug and share an experience that is non-commercial with your community,” he said.
Michael Kraft writes the Good Work series, volunteering on behalf of the Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN). NorCAN, a DreamMaker project of the Ink People, supports connections between people and organizations that work every day to keep our communities healthy and strong by offering professional development, board support, networking connections and more. Learn more at https://norcal-nonprofits.org/. To nominate a deserving nonprofit organization to be profiled, email michael@kraftconsultants.com.