Six years ago Leslie and Russell Harlow started the Autumn Classics Festival in Park City. But instead of looking at it as a separate entity, they prefer thinking of it as part of their much older Park City and Salt Lake City Music Festival.

"It's really an extension of our summer festival," Leslie Harlow told the Deseret News.

She inaugurated the summer festival in 1984, making it the oldest music festival in Utah and one of the oldest in the country. Two decades later, she and her husband decided to add an autumn segment. "Fall is a beautiful time up here," Harlow said, "and I think it's the perfect time for a festival."

Autumn Classics, which begins Oct. 2, is built along the same lines as its older summer counterpart: a mix of popular chamber music with lesser known works played by a group of musicians who have one significant element in common — their love of chamber music. "They're all friends of ours and that makes our concerts special," Harlow said.

Among the returning artists are pianists John Novacek and Doris Stevenson; violinists Charles Castleman, Philippe Djokic and Aidi Yoshioka; and cellists Jeffrey Solow and Julie Bevan. The Utah State University-based Fry Street Quartet will return this year, and the Harlows will also play in several of the concerts.

"I'm really thrilled that all of them are coming back this fall," Harlow said. "Not everyone can come during the summer festival so it's nice to have options."

Works that will be performed during the 10-day festival include Mendelssohn's Piano Quartet No. 3, op. 3; Beethoven's String Quartet op. 18, no. 4; and Chausson's Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet.

"I'm looking forward to these concerts," Harlow said. "I think we have some great music lined up, and we're bringing back some wonderful musical friends."

Harlow believes that people who haven't experienced live chamber music concerts have missed out on something unique. "Anyone who hasn't been to a chamber music concert yet should try it. They'll be surprised to find how intimate it really is."

The concert schedule is listed below. For information and tickets, call the festival office at 435-649-5309 or log on to pcmusicfestival.com.

If you go …

What: Autumn Classics Festival

Where: various locations in Park City and Salt Lake City

When: Oct. 2-12

How much: $20 single ticket (general admission), $15 senior citizens and students (online or at the door); multi-concert discounted punch cards also available

Phone: 435-649-5309

Web: pcmusicfestival.com