Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) announced on Monday the launch of the “Concertino Club,” described in a press release as “an initiative to create community among people who attend concerts alone.” The new program will hold its inaugural event at a Friday, January 30 concert by the multi-instrumental Invoke Quartet at the Traverse City Opera House.

The name "Concertino Club" is a reference to the concertino performance style in baroque music, where a small group of soloists play together. Per the IPR press release, the club was designed in large part for local widows and widowers, who used to attend classical music concerts regularly with their spouses but have stopped doing so now that they are on their own.

“There are a lot of people who are naturally alone, or have lost a spouse, or who have a spouse who doesn’t share the same interests,” said Amanda Sewell, IPR’s Music Director. “These are people who would go to a concert if they had someone to go with. They just don’t want to go totally alone. We think we can create some connections by giving people a really safe option to go to concerts with like-minded people.”

Through a partnership with the City Opera House, IPR has arranged a block of seats at the Invoke Quartet show, where Concertino Club members will be able to sit together. Tickets to this club presentation are available on the IPR website and include entry into the concert and a pre-show reception “to meet fellow music lovers.”

“We hope that people will meet at the reception, and if they strike up a good conversation they can easily go sit down together and continue the connection into the concert,” said Alexandra Herryman, IPR’s Director of Engagement.

Per IPR, other Concertino Club events are “in the works for April and July, with the hope that the Club will continue to meet on a regular basis.”