A few days after hosting our first concert in the barn we packed up and left for a two-week trip to Texas. Steuart played and recorded Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C with Austin Philharmonie (here’s a short clip from a rehearsal) - the full recording will be out sometime next year. From Austin we headed over to the Hill Country where Steuart collaborated with musician Jonny Rodgers, playing concerts and recording music for cello and wine glasses. When we got back home we had just over a week to get ready for the next Farmata concert (and get caught up on laundry!).

“Bach & Beer”, our second concert in the barn, was truly a special evening! We had several folks in the audience who were from Fair Grove or the next town over, which is neat considering it’s a town of 1,500. This area has historically been a farming community; our neighbors would be the first to admit that they haven’t been to many classical music concerts. We learned years ago that if you create a comfortable and welcoming environment, most anyone will enjoy listening to classical music, especially if it’s played beautifully. One of our goals is to create a concert series that is “at home” in rural Missouri - we want folks to feel comfortable showing up in their cowboy boots! But we also want to give them the best concert they’ve ever heard.

Looking ahead, we aim to host approximately one concert per month in the coming year. Our next performance, Stille Nacht, is scheduled for December 6th, and we have already secured two other fantastic musicians for our spring concerts. We need your help to ensure a full audience! Here are three ways you can support Farmata:

Sponsor a ticket: If you can’t make it to a concert or aren’t from the area, you can sponsor a ticket for someone who may not be able to afford one. Simply purchase a ticket to a concert, and make a note in the form that you are donating it (or send us an email). We’ll give your ticket to someone, and in exchange we will ask them to tell ten friends about Farmata. By sponsoring a ticket you not only make it possible for someone to come to a concert, but you help spread the word.
Become an ambassador: Farmata ambassadors are folks who commit to telling their networks about what’s happening at Farmata. They send emails, mail postcards, and give flyers to their friends, family and colleagues. We will provide email templates and print materials. And to show our appreciation we will give you a free ticket to a concert of your choosing. To learn more, send us an email.
Sponsor a guest artist: We are committed to inviting exceptional classical musicians to perform at Farmata and believe strongly in compensating them fairly for their work. Ticket sales alone will not cover the costs of travel and professional fees. If you are interested in contributing toward the expenses of bringing in a guest artist, please send us an email.

And finally, here’s a little clip from the Bach & Beer concert last weekend, enjoy!

building an audience

a beautiful morning