The Opal String Quartet will perform on January 30

UNC Asheville's Music Department will kick off its spring noontime concert series with performances by Thomas Rain Crowe and The Boatrockers, The Opal String Quartet and UNC Asheville's music faculty. All events are free and open to the public and will take place at UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium.

Thomas Rain Crowe and the Boatrockers will perform their innovative blend of poetry and music at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23. Crowe and his band of five musicians combine world music, spoken word, traditional acoustic music and modern electronic technology in their "Thief of Words" tour. No stranger to poetry, Crowe served as editor of the "Beatitude" magazine and has had his own work published in magazines, anthologies and book. The Boatrockers include Western North Carolina musicians Chris Rosser, Wayne Kirby, Doug Douglas, Sal D'Angio and Greg Olson.

The Opal String Quartet will perform at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. Quartet members Amy Lovinger, Ginger Kowal, Kara Poorbaugh and Franklin Keel have studied at the Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Interlochen Arts Academy and Appalachian State University. Members have played with many musical groups, including the Asheville Symphony.

UNC Asheville's music faculty will take the stage for a recital at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6. The Music Department consists of 31 faculty members whose areas of expertise range from aural skills to audio engineering technology to specific instruments. The faculty leads student performance groups including the University Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Choir and the University Concert Band.

For more information, call UNC Asheville's Music Department at 828/251-6432.