Audiences will have the ability to take a trip through time with the American String Quartet, performing tonight at the Schwab Auditorium with special guest and Penn State violist professor Timothy Deighton.

The quartet is now in its 32nd season and is recognized as one of the world's most accomplished string ensembles. It is making its third visit to Penn State in five years.

The quartet will be playing three chamber pieces ranging from the Baroque period to contemporary.

"It will be very traditional chamber music, but nicely balanced. There's a Baroque piece, a 20th century piece and a romantic piece," Deighton said. "I think with the addition of a fifth player on the last piece will make the concert very interesting."

The quartet will be performing Haydn's Quartet in D Minor and Shostakovich's Quartet in F Major. The concert will also feature Brahms' Quintet in G Major with Deighton as second violist.

"For most violists, chamber music is the best; it's what they live for. I've always loved playing chamber music because you get to react to what the other players are doing," he said. "It's a musical team effort. The combination of doing what I love to do with a fantastic group and repertoire. What else could I want?"

The New York City-based quartet has been making music since 1974, when its members were students at The Juilliard School. The quartet has performed in each of the 50 states, in Asia and throughout Europe.

"What makes us different from any other group is that it's all about the music for us. We make sure to focus on bringing the composers' intentions to life," said Dan Avshalomov, the quartet's violist. "Many groups are about being rock stars. We are so committed to the music and we don't play anything that we don't feel strongly about."

Avshalomov said he has been playing the viola for nearly 50 years. He said he began playing the violin when he was five and switched to the viola as a teenager. He studied in Europe and then at Julliard.

"Every day I do it, I love it more. There are always more challenges and more things to learn, and playing in a group, we learn from each other's criticisms. So, I see no need to stop," Avshalomov said.

Deighton said there is an impression that classical music is snobby, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

"It's a strange conclusion to have drawn that classical music is elitist. I don't think the composers felt that way when they were writing it and I know performers don't feel that way when we perform it," Deighton said. "I feel that you don't have to know anything about Brahms or the music to be moved."

The one thing the performers want to remind the audience is that live performances are different from recordings.

"Some people are surprised [live performances] are as engaging as they are. Chamber music is different from orchestras because in an orchestral performance, there is a lot going on. Chamber music is much more intimate, and I think that attracts people," Deighton said.

Avshalomov said students should come to the concert because it is filled with masterpieces and "one of their own."

"They should come to hear one of their own professors performing," he said. "This is music we've been playing for a long time, and we try to do different things each night to keep us alert. That's what makes a masterpiece a masterpiece. There are so many ways to play it, and it is still just as good."