Over the past few months, the Davis Arts Council has hosted its newest musical programming event, The Small Stage Series. With free performances once a month from October 2024 to March 2025, the series welcomes some of the best musicians in Utah. Performances take place at Abbington Senior Living in Layton.

The Small Stage series concert on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, featured a performance from the Salt City String Quartet. Comprised of cellist and talented music arranger Jill Plumb, violist Julie Aamodt, first violinist Emily Rice, and second violinist Emily Aamodt, the Salt City String Quartet is an immensely popular ensemble of exceptional musicians. Each member of the quartet brings a wealth of talent and experience through her performance background in both ensembles and as a soloist. 

The quartet is known for their modern, original arrangements of well-known songs, incorporating everything from iconic film themes to classical music into their lively performances. During the Small Stage performance, the ensemble’s storytelling through song brought a spirit of connection and excitement to the room. 

“It has been an especially wonderful challenge to create original arrangements that are exclusive to this quartet,” said Jill Plumb, the ensemble’s cellist and music arranger. “Not only do they make us unique from any other group, but we truly love to have fun new music to play together, even if it’s just for ourselves in rehearsal.” 

Plumb brought up how it can be difficult to find good new quartet music and to bring something fresh to the audience because of that. “Arranging whatever songs we want to play has opened up a whole world of possibilities, pulling from piano sonatas, flute concertos, Disney hits, A Capella groups…you name it!” she said. “It’s a fun jigsaw puzzle I get to put together, giving each instrument in our group a chance to shine and find harmonies that work well together.” 

Because of their collective search for something vibrant and unique to their ensemble, the Salt City String Quartet continually brings rich and joyful performances to Utah and beyond. 

In keeping with their ensemble’s performance tradition, for example, each member of the quartet wore her signature red shoes to the Small Stage series concert. The quartet also prefers to set up performances in the center of the room to create an experience similar to a theatre in the round, where both musicians and audience members can enjoy a close-up show and take part in the feeling of connection. At the Abbington, this setup allowed for an intimate experience and atmosphere of togetherness. 

“There is a 6th sense, a musical, emotional connection that we rely on that creates a spine-tingling sensation within our group that we hope translates to our audience so they can feel it too,” said first violinist Emily Rice. “We trust each other, and we dearly love each other, and I think it comes across through our music in sensitivity, vibrancy, and sometimes a little sass! It’s so fun.”

“My very favorite thing about the concert was the chance to play for our special audience,” second violinist Emily Aamodt said. “What a wonderful elderly community this is! I could sense their deep appreciation for music and the chance to be there with us. You could feel their great energy, and it inspired us to perform even better.”

Each member of the ensemble emphasized that it is this special connection with the audience and with one another – a uniting together through music – that has made the Salt String Quartet all that it is. 

“I love that we are such good friends with each other!” said violist Julie Aamodt, expressing how glad she is to get to play with her good friend, sister, and daughter. “When we play together, each of us truly has a ‘voice.’”

During December’s Small Stage performance, the synchronization of these four dear friends and musical “voices” is what brought such a wonderful concert to the community. 

Community members interested in attending the Small Stage Series can look forward to the upcoming performance on Feb. 7, 2024, featuring women’s pop group Sugartime. Locals can also save the date for March 7, 2025, and the performance of Rocky Mountain soul artist Karlie Mckinnon. λ