Concerts and theatrical performances co-presented annually by the Quick Center and Friends of Good Music, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts in the Olean area.
Diderot String Quartet with baritone Jesse Blumberg
Friday, Sept. 16 | 7:30 p.m.
Diderot String Quartet, named after the 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot, brings a fresh approach to works of the 18th and 19th centuries. Performing exclusively on period instruments with gut strings, Diderot’s repertoire ranges from classical to early romantic.
Art songs by Clara Schumann and Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn, as well as Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms, anchor Diderot's unique program of song and string quartets, featuring award-winning baritone Jesse Blumberg (right).
String quartets from Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn round out the program.
Western New York Chamber Orchestra
With Conductor Glen Cortese and the Fredonia Chamber Choir
Sunday, Oct. 16 | 3 p.m.
The annual visit of this popular ensemble, comprised of the best musicians from our region, features a performance of Franz Schubert’s Mass No. 2. in G-Major with soloists and the Fredonia Chamber Choir. Other works from the classical period will also be performed.
The orchestra's return to the Quick Center is always a highlight of the performance season.
Cordis Quartet: Condition Blue – The Acoustics of Aquatics
Friday, Nov. 4 | 7:30 p.m.
The Acoustics of Aquatics is an innovative multi-media performance featuring Cordis' edgy and expressive sound amidst breathtaking aquatic imagery, artfully curated by The National Geographic Society.
This unprecedented performance event features Cordis performing on cimbalom (a Hungarian hammered dulcimer), percussion, guitar, cello and keyboard to create a brilliantly orchestrated water-based score. The music unfolds amidst spectacular aquatic imagery on screen.
Condition Blue explores the creative sonic and visual possibilities of water, fire, and earth in an effort to raise awareness of our planet and its precious resources. The project was conceived by Cordis’ primary composer and cymbalist, Richard Grimes, “to deliver audiences an array of sights and sounds they’ve never experienced before.”
DePue Brothers: A Magical, Grassical Christmas
Performance memorializes deceased brother Alex
Sunday, Dec. 11 | 4 p.m.
It's the long-awaited return of this fabulous band of brothers!
The band encompasses a vivid blend of classical, bluegrass and rock genres. As a family they have been performing together for almost 40 years. Named “Musical Family of America” in 1989 by presidential decree, they were the subject of a nationally televised PBS documentary.
Their Holiday show, “A Magical, Grassical Christmas,” is a seasonal celebration of many holiday songs.
The concert is dedicated to the memory and legacy of Alex DePue, second-oldest of the four brothers, who was killed in a car accident earlier this year. For this performance, the band will be joined by vocalist Calesta Day.
Special Single Ticket Price for Non-Subscribers: $25
Empire Wild
Winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild international Competition
Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
Empire Wild is a genre-bending crossover trio. Each classically trained, the three musicians met at the Juilliard School of Music and formed Empire Wild as a vehicle for their love of musical exploration — using the sounds of pop, folk, Broadway and more into their songwriting and compositions.
They have brought their signature mix of original music and twists on the classical canon to audiences across the country.
Fire & Grace with Flamenco dancer Fanny Ara
Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
The dynamic duo of Fire & Grace — guitarist William Coulter and violinist Edwin Hulzinga — returns to our series with a new program featuring the internationally known dancer Fanny Ara with “Suite Espaňol,” which presents the six movements of the first Cello suite by Johann Sebastian Bach. Each movement is interspersed with a melody from Spain in the group's own arrangement.
The program is rounded out with works by Astor Piazolla and Antonio Vivaldi.
The Marc Cousins Jazz Trio
Friday, March 10, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
Blending Latin jazz, pop, bossa nova, and straight ahead jazz, the Cousins Trio enthralls audiences of all ages. Whether it is the virtuosity of Gardner’s pianos solos, the artistry of Quadir’s drumming or the versatility of Cousins’ bass playing, the concert will transport the listener to an alternative reality.
Their repertoire includes compositions by Gershwin, Hank Mobley, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins and more.
Fandango!
Friday, April 21, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
The most exciting new group on Chicago’s musical scene, Fandango! is a spicy mix of Latin, Spanish, Sephardic, Balkan and classical sounds.
These four multi-award-winning, globe-trotting virtuosi from Spain, the U.S., former Yugoslavia, and the United Kingdom have appeared on the world’s most prestigious stages and received rave reviews in the international press.
This is a rousing finale to our Friends of Good Music 2022-2023 performance season.