Any time you have a university or college campus in your back yard, you’re going to have ample opportunities to hear quality live music. The Olin Arts Center at Bates College in Lewiston offers concerts from instrumental and vocal students to internationally renowned recording artists.

The campus also provides a great opportunity to push the musical boundaries. It’s not every venue that can give you Schubert on a Steinway concert grand piano by Frank Glazer, original jazz and fusion by Tom Snow’s students, and full choral operatic selections by John Corrie’s students.

And those are just the house performers. This past weekend a packed house, with audience members from as far away as Rhode Island, came to hear Junior Brown wail on his unique guit-steel instrument that crossed as fast as his fingers between rock-and-roll and honky-tonk. Even after the encore, the crowd was still standing and chanting for more.

“We keep trying for the most interesting and most satisfying music we can find,” said Seth Warner, manager for The Olin Arts Center. “Whether it’s Beethoven or Johnny Cash, music is meant to be treasured and heard live.”

The concerts generally take place during the school year, said Warner. Toward the end of each semester, there are about seven to 10 student concerts involving Bates students. Most of the performances are free. Concerts with ticket prices may range from $4 to $37.50.

The best thing about the Olin Arts Center is that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. With a capacity of 300, every seat offers a comfortable, close, and clear sight line to the stage. The stage itself is a simple, polished platform that can appear spacious or intimate, depending on the show.

There’s something about the stage lights, the interaction between the performers and audience, and seeing the music instead of just hearing it through speakers that makes the music more memorable and meaningful. A Junior Brown fan can appreciate the lighting quick licks when listening to a CD, but the music takes on an entirely new dimension when the eyes see what the ear hears. There’s also something humbling and inspiring about seeing an actual human being create and perform something that seems unnatural.

“We aim to build trust with our audiences,” said Warner. “And hope that they are willing to come back and try something else that they are less familiar with, knowing that it will be high quality, very worthwhile, engaging and fun.”

Bates is bringing Jon Anderson, lead vocalist from the progressive rock band YES, to Olin Arts Center in May. Best known for surreal lyrics, symphonic arrangements, and extraordinary light shows in the 1970s mega concert days, YES singer-songwriter Anderson is currently on a nationwide acoustic tour.

The easiest way to find out about performances is online: www.bates.edu/music-concerts.xml (or just Google Olin Arts Center Bates College). Tickets can also be purchased online: www.batestickets.com. Warner noted that the school’s goal is to bring the highest quality acts that are suited to the space — that could mean anything from a one-man show to a 60-piece orchestra. The Olin Arts Center is located at 75 Russell St. in Lewiston.