Sunday, June 23, 50 people gathered at Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford for an installment of the recital series Music for the Soul.
The concert featured pianist Jaya Hoy, cellist Scott McKnight and clarinetist Paul Hyunbai.
The audience found themselves on stage with the musicians in an experiment that proved successful, according to performers and listeners.
Past Music for the Soul performances have been held either in the sanctuary of the church or in Logie Hall, a much larger space, depending on which of the two grand pianos on site was to be used.
Hoy said at a past performance in Logie Hall, the audience seemed and felt too far away from the performers, so they decided to try bringing the audience closer. Since the piano couldn't come down to the audience, the audience had to join the piano on stage.
The result was an intimate setting just right for the three-piece recital featuring Beethoven, Poulenc and Brahms. Audience members said they felt more a part of the performance, and Hoy was happy with the close setting.
She also said this performance was one of the best they've had in the Music for the Soul Series, a series of recitals she and fellow founder Lisa Hornung established more than two years ago, featuring local, national and international talent.
Hoy is a pianist who has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. She has been back in North Battleford, her hometown, for three years and is active in the local music community.
Joining Hoy for Sunday's recital was the cellist who recently took part in three performances of the musical HONK! at the Dekker Centre, put on by the Battlefords Children's Choir. McKnight holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance and has also performed extensively. He has a private studio in Saskatoon.
Also performing was an artist who played professionally in Korea before coming to the Battlefords. Hyunbai is a member of the North Battleford Concert Band and holds a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in clarinet from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. He has also played for Battlefords audiences in several gala concerts at the Dekker Centre as well as Music for the Soul recitals.
