Associate professor Mariam Kharatyan took over the responsibility for the classical lunch concerts at UiA in 2020. Piano professor Tellef Juva organized the concerts before her.
According to Kharatyan, the lunch concerts probably have traditions as long as the classical music education at the Agder Conservatory of Music, which was established in 1965. In 2024 it is 20 years since the lunch concerts were launched as a regular concert series after the Conservatory of Music became part of the University of Agder.
– The form that the concerts have now, with four or five professionally produced concerts each semester, has its 20th anniversary this year. We think that deserves a little extra attention, she says.
– Important for the students
In the autumn of 2024, the stage is set for four classical lunchtime concerts in Hall 1 in Sigurd Køhn's building at the Faculty of Fine Arts. The first concert is on Wednesday 11 September. All concerts are free of charge and open for everyone.
– The lunch concerts are very important for the classical music students at UiA. We get the opportunity to gain experience with feelings and mechanisms that apply to a lesser
extent in the rehearsal room, says Nils Arne Halle Erstad.
He is a master's student at the Department of Classical Music and Music Education and specializes in classical song. Performing at the classical lunch concerts is a natural part of the education. Halle Erstad appreciates the opportunity to test his own artistic choices and concepts on a larger audience:
– The lunch concerts have a low threshold and focuses on a positive approach. This can provide greater security when other concert arenas await both during and after the education.
– In addition, the lunch concerts are open to anyone who wants to listen and that is positive for both the audience and the performers, says Halle Erstad.
Autumn programme with many highlights
Kharatyan says that the lunch concerts have developed a lot over the years and that the quality is improving every semester.
– My idea was to create a concert series with a distinctive character and a authentic concert situation for both the students and the audience. The producers at the faculty ensure that sound and light maintain a professional level, she says.
The classical music students have a practical exam form. The lunch concerts therefore provide important training before the exams. Students deal with nervousness differently, and practice makes perfect. Together with Kharatyan, the students learn to understand their body and use it to their advantage.
All instrument groups are represented during the lunch concerts.
– Equality is a very important principle at the institute. All students, regardless of level, should have the chance to perform.
Some students like to perform solo, others go together in ensembles. Kharatyan and fellow pianist Cordula Hacke provide accompaniment at the highest level.
– Each student has their own distinctive character and a unique musical identity. This creates breadth and variety, says Kharatyan.
– The audience can expect many highlights this autumn.
Bonus concert in cooperation with CreaTeME
In addition to the four classic lunch concerts, a bonus concert is planned together with UiA's CreaTeME and the colleagues and students from Department of Popular Music.
This will be an interdisciplinary lunch concert with live electronics, inspired by folk music. The bonus concert will be announced shortly.
Kharatyan believes it is important that the students see the value of this type of interdisciplinary collaboration.
– Artistic and musical development brings a lot of joy. It is important that students see the value of having an open mind while expanding their own taste and exploring other genres. It helps raise the standard, says Kharatyan.