Despite frigid weather, a stray from the classic string quartet repertoire brought about 150 people to the Ames City Auditorium.

The Grammy-nominated Vermeer String Quartet, best known for their renditions of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Haydn, performed classic quartets as well as a contemporary piece by Joan Tower on Saturday evening.

Ames resident Tim Gartin says although he prefers classic pieces, such as Dvorak and Brahms, the contemporary Tower piece, “Incandescent,” added an extra challenge.

“If I had my choice, I would fill the program with more classical pieces, but I’m always glad to hear something else,” Gartin says. “It makes me think more and offers a different sound for the palette.”

Rnina Luban, Ames resident and private violin teacher, also enjoyed hearing the Tower piece.

“I myself have a harder time grasping contemporary music, but when I hear it and see it live, I enjoy it more,” Luban says. “It was a very interesting piece, and also, it was nice to see a piece by a woman composer.”

Even experts in the audience felt the performance was astounding.

“When one gets to an international level of playing, there is a level of consistency,” says Jonathan Sturm, associate professor of music at Iowa State. “I haven’t heard much playing that was any better than this in my life.”

Vermeer String Quartet violist Richard Young says it was the Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association that chose the program for the concert. He says they gave a menu of different program options and let the local Chamber Music Association choose what would fit their audience the best.

“The fact that they chose this piece shows me they like a nice balanced program,” Young says. “They are not afraid to go beyond the safety first choices.”

Paula Forrest, Ames Town and Gown artistic director, said it was important to choose a well-rounded program for the performance.

“I like to make sure the audience gets exposed to the new music,” she says. “I think it’s a powerful piece that’s relatively easy listening for new music.”

The four men of the quartet have been playing together for 13 years, and at intermission this was clearly evident in their familiar backstage comedic banter. After joking about nearly getting run off the road by blowing snow on their way to Ames, they were off to go back on stage to do what they love and finish the show.

“The thing that motivates us is probably the same thing for every quartet — the repertoire we perform,” Young says.

“We are all passionate about the music.”