Arash “Joey” Amini prefers to play his cello in jeans.
Amini is the artistic director and co-founder of America’s Dream Chamber Artists, a hip group of classically trained musicians whose average age is just 28.

“Traditionally you go to a concert and see people wearing a tuxedo or a suit or heels – all very conservative clothing,” Amini said.
“We wear casual, fashionable clothing. What you see in our publicity photos is what we actually wear on stage.”
This week, the group will be performing on stages in Eugene. America’s Dream is in town for a four-day educational community residency through the School of Music and Dance.
They will work with the Eugene Youth Symphony and perform two concerts on campus as well as one at the Eugene Public Library.
Formed in 2003 by Amini and his now-wife and flutist Eveline Kuhn, America’s Dream is stationed in New York, but its members are spread throughout the country.
“There are even a couple (band members) in London,” Amini said. “It’s really nice when we travel around; it’s like reunions here and there.”
Last week was the first time America’s Dream played a concert outside of the New York area.
“When we come to Eugene, it’ll be our second stop on tour. Then we go all over the country,” Amini said.
Amini, who graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music and The Julliard School, hand-picked all 64 members of the ensemble.
“Every single person is a close friend of mine, and I have played with all of them in different settings,” he said.
Coined as “fresh, dynamic performances that challenge tradition” on their official Web site, the group’s shows are anything but your typical, stuffy chamber music concert.
Amini described their performances as fun and intimate.
“When we’re playing, it’s like a little family get-together on stage,” he said.
“We’re trying to break down the wall that normally exists between performers and the audience.”
America’s Dream wants to make chamber music more appealing to all listeners, especially to those who have never before attended a classical concert.
The act is more accessible than those of typical groups, Amini said.
“We interact with the audience. We introduce ourselves and talk a little bit about the pieces in a non-pedagogical way,” he said. “It’s very casual.”
Coupled with their informal attitudes and clothing choices, Amini believes that the group’s repertoire is what sets them apart.
“What we do is the more mainstream classical music. These are the really great pieces of chamber music that speak to a broad audience,” he said.
Another thing that is different about America’s Dream is that they do not use program notes.
Amini said programs distract the audience from watching and listening. They prefer to introduce the pieces themselves.
“If people really want to know more about a specific song, they can Google it,” he said jokingly.
The most important part of an America’s Dream performance is showing the audience that they love what they are doing, Amini said.
“Showing that we’re having fun and conveying our love of music to everyone who will listen, that’s our priority,” he said.
“I think that will inspire people.”
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