Students with an interest in classical music will want to thank Rebecca Rischin. The clarinet professor invited her former instructor's chamber group to the School of Music Sunday night, where the group turned in an impressive performance.

The ensemble, Trio con Brio, which consists of professors from Florida State University, gave a spirited rendition of some standard works, but the performance of a number of smaller-scale works by lesser-known composers spiced up the event. The trio began the evening with a work by Louise Farrenc, the first female composer to achieve success and a position at the Paris Conservatory in 1842. Trio con Brio approached the piece in almost the same manner as they did a later chamber composition by Mozart: they displayed flawless technical mastery in hopes of achieving maximum expression from a rather predictable, classical score.

The evening's highlight was a performance of Johannes Brahms' "A minor Trio" for cello, clarinet, and piano. The trio's true brilliance shone in this passionate interpretation. Pianist Carolyn Bridger, who had been un-inspiring earlier in the evening, warmed up to the fiery score in the work's final three movements.

Brahms wrote the piece in 1891 in collaboration with a friend, clarinettist Richard Muhlfield. Trio con Brio (most notably clarinettist Frank Kowalsky) explored the melodic potential of the instrument, as the composers intended. Kowalsky's delicate decrescendo and perfect trills were truly noteworthy.

Also in the group's repertoire was a piece entitled "Dialogues I for Clarinet and Cello," composed in 1985 by the trio's cellist, Lubomir Georgiev. Later,in a number of highly contrasting vignettes, Kowalsky and Georgiev engaged in friendly but tense musical banter, like newlyweds still unused to such forced proximity.

Last on the performance schedule was a set of romantic-style pieces entitled "Trio-Miniaturen" by turn-of-the-century composer Paul Juon. These emotional compositions were played in grand style by the trio, especially the last piece, "Danse Phantastique."