In the North Allen Library Lobby, on the first Wednesday of every month, UW School of Music staff, students, volunteers, and library employees begin setting up chairs across the lobby. As the clock creeps toward 12:30 p.m., musicians walk in and out of the far door, carrying instruments and music stands. Volunteers pass out programs to the slowly congregating crowd. On the half hour, music fills the library lobby as if it were a Friday evening at a hallowed concert hall.
UW Libraries and the UW School of Music collaborate to bring the free First Wednesday Concert Series to the public each month. The series features School of Music students in approximately hour-long sets, strategically occurring during lunchtime in hopes of audience members attending during a break in their day.