The old saying goes, “find a job you like and you will never work a day in your life.” That is the sentiment shared by the Argenta Trio, which kicked off the fourth season of the Argenta Concert Series last Friday. The annual series features University of Nevada, Reno faculty performing pieces by some of the most well loved musicians and composers in music history.

The trio of UNR professors that form the campus’ resident chamber ensemble entertains both Reno and nationwide audiences by weaving together cello, piano  and violinist with flair and expertise.

Although the Argenta Trio has been a staple at UNR for over 25 years, the current lineup, which features cellist Dmitiri Atapine, pianist James Winn and violinist Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, has only been playing together since 2009.

“We all hear things slightly differently, so we bring a different perspective to our rehearsals,” Sant’Ambrogio said. “We are all very passionate about our music, and I think that comes across to the audience.”

The trio performed by themselves three times a year, but after Atapine joined the group he worked to add to the concert series in order to infuse more variety of chamber music into the program and introduce Reno to different styles and sounds.

The Argenta Trio will play three out of the nine performances in this year’s Argenta Concert Series while the other slots will be filled by groups from all around the world.

“Dmitri and his wife have expanded the series into something much bigger,” Winn said. “They bring in enormous, glamorous names to play it, so it has become quite special to be involved in it.”

The trio’s Friday performance, titled “The Beginnings,” presented pieces from Ludwig van Beethoven, Frank Bridge and Johannes Brahms. The group was pleased with how the concert turned out, feeling an enthusiastic energy was shared by everyone there.

Atapine’s favorite moment came after the show, when he bumped into a student who said it was his first classical concert and that he absolutely loved it.

“It truly made my day to know that one more person in the world is a convert to our art form,” Atapine said.

Although Sant’Ambrogio has had a long and varied career that has taken her all around the world, for her there is something special about playing chamber music in Reno.

“There are a lot of classical music lovers in Reno, which you would not expect,” Sant’Ambrogio said. “There is a culture of appreciating classical music in Reno.”

Sant’Ambrogio felt that working in a small group like the Argenta Trio is a rewarding experience. She compared it to having a dinner party with close friends where everyone communicates and responds to one another in an intimate and intelligent way.

Atapine shared Sant’Ambrogio’s sentiment, praising chamber music’s ability to allow the group to grow together and put out the best possible product.

“In a trio, because it is the constant experience with the same people, I think we can dig deeper because we know each other so well,” Atapine said. “It has a great intimacy and it provides a great surge of common ideas.”

Although busy with their teaching and other projects — Sant’Ambrogio is also the concertmaster of the Fresno Philharmonic orchestra while Atapine was recently elected to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — the group sets aside two days a week for rehearsal and practice. Winn understands how difficult it is to find time to manage the Argenta Trio on top of everything else, but to him it never feels like a burden or a hassle when he gets to be involved in a job he loves. 

“We have to keep an open mind about sleeping and eating,” Winn said. “It is hard work, but music is one of those careers where the job itself sustains you with the energy it provides back.”

The Argenta Trio’s next campus event, called “Winter Dreams,” takes place on Dec. 5, and Atapine hopes for a large student turnout as he believes classical musical can offer something unique and special for those who take the time to listen.

“A lot of people know about [chamber music], but not enough people stop to appreciate it for themselves,” Atapine said. “I want more students to know about the beauty of classical music, about chamber music and about what we do at the music department.”

Jacoby Bancroft can be reached at thersko@sagebrush.unr.edu.