Although New York City is expensive and Columbia University is stressful, the Music at St. Paul's Tuesday concerts are neither. Instead, they're free of charge, incredibly diverse, and located in a beautiful and under-appreciated space on campus: St. Paul's Chapel.
Fans of live music know how pricey and complicated it can be to see quality performances. Many concerts take place downtown and charge outrageous amounts for tickets, particularly in the non-rock sphere. For over 10 years, the Music at St. Paul's concert series has been challenging the New York music scene. Not only are the concerts free and on campus, they are also more diverse than most such series would dare to be. Striving to represent as many local musicians as possible, concerts range in genre from jazz to classical to world music. As James Rodgers, the series's program intern said, "Chamber music would be easy." Instead, the program, run by the Office of the Columbia University Chaplain, makes variety a priority. Also ranging in the level of performers, the series has hosted professional musicians as well as high school chorus groups, hoping to bring the Morningside and larger New York City community onto the Columbia campus.
Unlike most music series, Music at St. Paul's places an emphasis on education. According to Rodgers, "we try to be open to anything," as long as it is appropriate to the space and would be interesting and educational to the audience. An emphasis is placed on a discussion of a work's context and significance. Next week, for example, a chamber music quartet from Juilliard will be playing Oliver Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time". The piece, composed while Messaien was interned in a German prison camp during World War II, has enormous historical significance. "Those [historical] elements are important, and it's important that we let the audience know about that because most people don't know," Rodgers said. For programmers, Music at St. Paul's is as much about the music as the message.
The series's diversity seeps into its audience as well—faculty, students, members of the Morningside community, and even very young children all attend and enjoy the concerts. Nonetheless, Music at St. Paul's continues to work on increasing variety in the audience. Children are always welcome at the hour-long concerts in the very relaxed atmosphere. No one will scowl if you need to leave a concert before it is over, making it ideal for parents and their children. As Rodgers said, "you can't bring your kid to Carnegie Hall," but they are certainly welcome at St. Paul's.
Rodgers also encourages Columbia students to attend the concerts. They are ideal for a tight student budget and extremely convenient for those short on time. The series provides the opportunity to see music of all genres in an unpretentious environment. On Tuesday evenings, concerts can even serve as wonderful study breaks. Another draw is the venue itself. A beautiful yet often undiscovered space, St. Paul's Chapel is the ideal place to hear beautiful music, escape from the monotony of everyday life, and relax.
As the Music at St. Paul's series continues to grow, its programming and audience are sure to vary even more. The program, in its spirit of inclusivity, encourages budding musicians to apply to perform because it is always interested in including members of the Columbia community. When Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall proves too intimidating or the Blue Note too expensive, St. Paul's is always open, free, and ready to provide an introduction to some truly great music.