For the first time, the Midvale Arts Council presents a Classical Music Festival to help residents appreciate the formal composition and technical mastery of classical music. 

The free festival runs May 7-9 at the Midvale Performing Arts Center (695 W. Center St.), with each performance starting at 7 p.m. Space is limited and reserved tickets are recommended. 

“There will be a different performance every night,” said Midvale Arts Council Executive Director Lauren Richards. “Thursday night is a reed trio, so clarinet, oboe, bassoon. It should be awesome. The second night is a string quartet. Then Saturday night, we’re bringing together the reed trio and the string quartet and another string quartet to make a small chamber orchestra.”

Thursday’s performance will feature Grace Trio. The Allante String Quartet with bassist Alexander Willey will perform on Friday. Saturday’s event will showcase the Sky Island Quartet, with members of the Allante String Quartet and Grace Trio. Performances will also feature local music students as special opening acts. 

“We want to get people in the door and experience a classical program with lots of program notes to guide them through the music, and keep it friendly and professional,” Richards said. “It will be a great experience for people who are used to classical music and a good introduction for people whose first time it is.”

Each program will be approximately 90 minutes long. Information about musicians and free tickets can be found at www.midvalearts.com/classical.