Picture the sound of a live harp and flute ensemble performing an excerpt from Bizet’s “Carmen” inches away from you. You look at your surroundings, but instead of seeing the drab insides of a stuffy music hall, you realize you are in a comfortable living room and the snack tray is being passed your way.

Dennis Wendell will turn his living room into a concert hall for part of a night with the help of a group of ISU flutists and harpists in an attempt to raise funds for an ISU music program.

The performance “Heavenly Duos for Flute and Harp,” part of the music department’s “Scholarship Musicales,” is a series of concerts held in private homes in Ames or Des Moines designed to provide scholarship money to bring talented undergraduates to Iowa State.

The performance will feature two ISU instructors, flutist Sonja Giles and harpist Jeannie Chenette, and three ISU student flutists who will join Giles as part of a flute quartet.

“I am very excited to be involved in the Scholarship Musicales, because it offers listeners the opportunity to hear and see music being created in a very intimate atmosphere . right in people’s homes, and it benefits many deserving young musicians here at the university,” Chenette said.

“We try to make it a lot more personal . we explain ahead of time what we’re doing, demonstrate different techniques, people ask questions,” Giles said, adding that the concert provides a unique opportunity for the audience to interact with the musicians.

Performers aren’t paid for the show, but proceeds go toward funds for undergraduate music students.

“It’s really the only way we know of, to raise money to make school affordable for students,” she said.

A lot of classical music was originally composed to be played in a smaller setting, Chenette said.

“Many classical pieces were written with the idea that they would be heard not in a concert hall, but in private chambers – thus the term ‘chamber music,'” she said.

Giles, who describes the music as “gorgeous,” “ethereal,” “serene” and “heavenly,” said she is excited at the chance to perform her first show with a harpist.

“A lot of composers write specifically for just flute and harp together,” Giles said, explaining that the two instruments have a very complimentary sound.

Although this is Giles’ first time playing with Chenette, she said she is excited at the chance to get to know her better.

“You learn so much from every person you play with . not only musically but about them as a person,” said Giles, who has been playing the flute for 20 years.

“I am just getting to know Sonja [Giles] and it is wonderful to be able to do this by preparing music together,” Chenette said. “I appreciate Sonja [Gile]’s inventive ideas and her ‘can do’ attitude.”

Melissa Wilson, freshman in music and one of Giles’ students, said the show will be a valuable experience.

“I’m excited at the opportunity to play alongside my instructor – instead of for her – which is rare,” she said.

She also said Giles’ positivity is her best trait as a teacher.

“I never feel forced to play the flute, we just play as well as we want to play . no limits or expectations,” Wilson said.

Elizabeth Jordan, junior in music, and Diana Billings, senior in music, will also be performing.

Attendance in Scholarship Musicales is by mail-in reservation only. Reservations will be honored in order of receipt until each event is filled. Reservations can be downloaded from the music department’s Web site at www.music.iastate.edu.