Time for Three, a conservatory-trained trio of two violinists and a double bassist that performs a hybrid of classical and popular music, makes its Center for the Performing Arts debut at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in Schwab Auditorium.
The group’s visit to Penn State features a variety of free engagement events, including a Classical Coffeehouse, for students and the public.
The trio’s repertoire ranges from music by Johann Sebastian Bach to its own arrangements of songs by the Beatles, U2, Kanye West, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake and others.
“Time for Three is not a classical music group. We have our roots from classical training, but our output is a conduit for us to have a great time with each other. … It’s unexpected concerts that we present,” says violinist Nick Kendall. “The repertoire is different and new. It’s very audience friendly, but it also takes active listening to be at a concert. But we make that happen because the interaction while we’re playing is so visceral. We are ourselves on stage. Between songs we speak to the audience.”
The trio will announce its selections from the stage. “We’re definitely going to play a few things off our latest album,” Kendall says. “But we’re also going to do a couple of these what we call mash-ups, which are blending or putting two distinct songs — one from the classical world and one from the pop world — together.”
The concert is likely to include a mash-up of music by Katy Perry and Igor Stravinsky, Mumford & Sons’ “Little Lion Man” and some of the trio’s Gypsy repertoire. “It’ll be a nice variety from new, middle and old of Time for Three’s rep,” Kendall says.
The ensemble’s first commercial album, “Three Fervent Travelers,” remained in the top 10 on the Billboard crossover chart for almost a year. “Time for Three,” its first album for Universal Classics, came out in 2014. “Stronger,” the band’s hit YouTube anti-bullying video, has inspired countless students.
Violinists Zach De Pue and Kendall and bassist Ranaan Meyer played together for fun as students at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. De Pue and Kendall had a mutual affection for country and bluegrass fiddling. Meyer, who also composes works for the trio, introduced the violinists to his roots in jazz and improvisation.
Time for Three has performed more than 1,000 concerts at venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall, jazz clubs, European festivals, NFL games and the Indianapolis 500. In November, the trio performed “Blame” for a tango-dancing couple on ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or artists, will be offered in Schwab one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders.
Time for Three members will also perform and discuss their music in an informal setting at Classical Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Hintz Family Alumni Center’s Robb Hall. Complimentary refreshments, including cookies and coffee, will be provided. Attendees receive a Classical Coffeehouse mug, while supply lasts. At the end of the coffeehouse event, each Penn State student in attendance receives a voucher for a serving of Berkey Creamery ice cream.
This presentation is a component of the Center for the Performing Arts Classical Music Project. With support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the project provides opportunities to engage students, faculty and the community with classical music artists and programs.
Tickets are available online or by phone at (814) 863-0255 or (800) ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (weekdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Bryce Jordan Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
