eighth blackbird performs with Chris Potter and Kenny Werner on January 16. (Photo from their website ) January is going to be a banner month for frugal classical music fans. By now you should know about the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Chicagoist Gift Guide special , but don’t overlook the huge discount being offered by the University of Chicago Presents . From now through Christmas Eve, you can get 50% off tickets to any of the concert series’s January 2010 concerts: January 7 – Pacifica Quartet The Grammy Award-winning string quartet ( 2009 Best Chamber Music Performance ) will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13 (the one with the famous Grosse Fugue), as well as Jennifer Higdon ‘s “Voices” and three songs from Antonín Dvořák’s “Cypresses.” 3:00 p.m., Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th, $25 (regular price), $5 students, call (773) 702-8068 for tickets January 16 – Contempo Double-Bill with Chris Potter and Kenny Werner The program will include Bernard Rands ‘s “now again” featuring mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer, Shawn Brogan Allison ‘s “Towards the Flame,” Yu-Hui Chang ‘s “Binge Delirium” for solo percussion, and Kurt Weill’s “September Song.” The concert will close with free improvisation by Potter and Werner . 7:30 p.m., Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, $25-$40 (regular price), $10 students, tickets available online or at (312) 334-7777, mention code 5506 January 22 – Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi and Theuns Europa Galante will play baroque music with period instruments. They’ll perform the ever-famous “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as works by Georg Philipp Telemann and Giovanni Battista Sammartini. 7:30 p.m., Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th, $32 (regular price), $5 students, call (773) 702-8068 for tickets January 29 – Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet We’re still reeling from the Berlin Philarmonic’s November Symphony Center visit, so we’ll jump at the opportunity to see this group drawn from the orchestra’s wind section. They’ll play a concert of modern music with a large Hungarian contingent (pieces by György Ligeti, György Orbán, and Ferenc Farkas). Quintets by Carl Nielsen and Elliott Carter round out the show. 7:30 p.m., Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th, $32 (regular price), $5 students, call (773) 702-8068 for tickets

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Add’l Classical Music Discounts, Now With More Jazz