Eugene Gaub, associate professor of music, and Nancy McFarland Gaub, applied music associate, celebrate 20 years of the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival
Grinnell in the News 2013-06-07
Summary:
When this year's edition of the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival begins this Saturday, June 8, it will mark its 20th anniversary, a significant milestone for any classical music series. What is even more remarkable is that the Gaub's have remained the artistic directors of the festival for the past two decades, even though they moved to Iowa 18 years ago to take up teaching positions at Grinnell College.
"While we moved to Iowa after only two seasons," says Eugene Gaub, "we already had an energetic and loyal group of volunteers on the ground in East Aurora to do absolutely indispensable things like raise money and print programs. The first year or two, we were prepared to pay the musicians ourselves if the support didn't emerge, but it did. The festival seems to satisfy desires and needs both of the community and for musicians. We hoped it would last forever, because chamber music is something that we and most musicians think of as the best, most exalted form of music-making, which can provide incredibly enriching experiences for listeners as well. So, first and foremost, I would like to express our gratitude to the community for its support, as each year has been like a dream come true for us."