This month, Interlochen Public Radio will hold the inaugural event for Concertino Club, an initiative to create community among people who attend concerts alone.
The idea for the club came from the realization that there were many widows and widowers out in the community who were no longer attending classical music concerts after their partner had passed away.
“There are a lot of people who are naturally alone, or have lost a spouse, or who have a spouse who doesn’t share the same interests. These are people who would go to a concert if they had someone to go with. They just don’t want to go totally alone. We think we can create some connections by giving people a really safe option to go to concerts with like-minded people,” said Amanda Sewell, IPR’s Music Director.
In January IPR is partnering with City Opera House for the inaugural Concertino Club performance and a pre-show reception. The tickets are arranged as a block of seats together, but allow participants to choose who they sit next to.
Tickets are on sale now and include access to a pre-show reception and a seat at the Invoke Quartet performance at City Opera House at 7:30 pm on Friday, Jan. 30.
“We hope that people will meet at the reception, and if they strike up a good conversation they can easily go sit down together and continue the connection into the concert,” said Alexandra Herryman, IPR’s Director of Engagement.
The name “Concertino Club” is a reference to a style of baroque music where soloists play together.
Events are in the works for April and July, with the hope that the Club will continue to meet on a regular basis.
