The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California Davis has gotten a grant to encourage appreciation of classical music.

The three-year, $580,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will support initiatives to deepen the experience of classical music for musicians, students and other audience members.

The focus includes: presenting new and challenging classical works in nontraditional settings; bringing in established classical musicians and orchestras onto the campus; engaging the audience and engaging students by launching a program to build student attendance at classical music events.

“We have a long-standing belief in the power and beauty of classical music to enrich lives,” said Don Roth, executive director of the Mondavi Center, in a statement.

He said the grant will help the center create initiatives that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center features almost 200 performances a year by professional and student artists in music, dance, theater, film and spoken word, according to the university.