Working from home has changed the lives of our pets, including here in Champaign-Urbana
Violinist Meg Freivogel, artist-in-residence at the University of Illinois Music School, has traveled the world with the Jupiter String Quartet to perform and teach. On her last television appearance, she received rave reviews for playing with a new music partner.
The family dog Iris.
Screenshot from the Facebook page of the Jupiter String Quartet
In a short video clip presented as Game of the Day on ABC’s Good Morning America on May 14, 2021, Freivogel is practicing at home when Iris decides to sing along to everyone’s delight. You can enjoy a longer performance originally posted by the Jupiters on their social media accounts on April 28th. Iris demonstrates both impressive breath support and intuitive changes in melodic contour as Freivogel changes from major to minor.
(Fun fact: Freivogel and her four-legged friend were filmed working on Judd Greenstein’s 2006 string quartet entitled “Four on the Floor.” There’s a hilarious pun that just begs to be done.)
The reviews from the hosts of Good Morning America were definitely positive.
- “Very soulful.” – George Stephanopoulos
- “I think if you keep practicing, you could be in Carnegie Hall before we know.” – Michael Strahan
In fact, the Jupiters have performed at Carnegie Hall before, along with an impressive list of other concert venues around the world. We’re so lucky to have these A-list performers here at the University of Illinois, and Iris is undoubtedly lucky enough to have seen more quality music right in her own house this year than ever before.
Together with her colleagues in the Jupiter String Quartet (but without Iris) Freivogel recently gave the (virtual) world premiere of “Chaconne / Labyrinth”, a new work by the composer and music professor at the University of Illinois, Stephen Andrew Taylor, which reflects this experience of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, May 16 at 3 p.m. Central Time, you can join the Jupiter String Quartet for a FREE online concert presented by UCLA chamber music at the Clark. After the concert, Freivogel and her colleagues will attend a live Q&A session on Zoom. No word on whether Iris will be attending, but Greenstein’s “Four on the Floor” is on the agenda, so who knows …?
Register here to see the event: http://www.1718.ucla.edu/events/jupiter-quartet/