Classical music isn’t usually the music of choice on college campuses, but for students looking to broaden their horizons without shrinking their wallets, a good dose of classical music may be just what they need.
The University’s School of Music has created the “Flex Pass” to offer people a more affordable way to check out some of the concerts taking place on campus this year. This $30 punch card allows the bearer to sample eight of the remaining 19 concerts during the 2001-02 season. For students, this means access to a number of concerts at a 25 percent discount off the regular student price.
According to Scott Barkhurst, the music school’s director of publications and marketing, the idea of a punch card is popular with theater groups, but is a relatively new idea for music concerts.
“With a punch card, people can create their own season and save a little money in the process,” he said.
Pass holders can present their passes at the Beall Concert Hall box office to have them punched and receive a ticket for that evening’s concert. Bearers can choose one concert from the four remaining from the Chamber Music Series, one of the two remaining from the World Music Series, one from the Vanguard Series and five from the 10 remaining Faculty Artist Series concerts.
Barkhurst said the pass was developed to promote the school’s best concerts and the University’s first-class music facilities.
“We have a world-class concert hall — one of the best performing spots in the West — and a lot of people have never seen it,” Barkhurst said. “And there are so many concerts each year that some of the very best ones get lost in the shuffle.”
University Ticket Office Manager Mary Barrios said that the EMU Ticket Office has sold only 31 Flex Passes, mostly to faculty and community members, but she believes the “incredible” value the Flex Pass offers has the potential to draw more people in the months to come.
Although a few of the concerts offered to Flex Pass holders have already happened, Barkhurst said many concerts are yet to come, as most of them take place in winter and spring.
“There are still a lot of chances for people who haven’t bought a pass yet,” he said.
Christina Jamieson, a junior music major, frequently attends concerts put on by the music department and is optimistic that the concerts covered by the Flex Pass could be of interest to a number of students.
“There are some wonderful performances that they do there. There is a great variety of music,” she said. “If anyone wants to try to broaden their horizons or just entertain themselves, it is something I really recommend.”