NFoM Will Host November 4 Return Appearance Of American String Quartet

A musical treasure comes back to Newtown for the second concert of the 24th Newtown Friends of Music season, when the organization presents the American String Quartet in concert in the auditorium of Edmond Town Hall on Sunday, November 4, at 3 pm.

No strangers to Newtown audiences, the four remarkable musicians — violinists Peter Winograd and Laurie Carney, violist Daniel Avshalomov, and cellist David Geber – studied at the Juilliard School, where the quartet was formed in 1974. The group won the prestigious Coleman and Naumburg awards the same year.

In 1998-99 the quartet celebrated its 25th anniversary with a tour that included all 50 states, a performance at the Kennedy Center and two European tours.

Violinist Peter Winograd was born into a gifted family and he studied with his father, who was a founding cellist at the Juilliard School. He gave his first public performance at age 11 and at 17 was accepted as a scholarship student of Dorothy Delay at Julliard.

He is a member of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, a regular participant in the Marlboro Festival and a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. When time permits, Mr Winograd appears as soloist in the United States and abroad. His instrument is by Bussetto, Cremona, 1675.

Violinist Laurie Carney began her studies at home with her musical family. At the age of eight she was the youngest violist ever admitted to the Preparatory Division of the Juilliard School. At 15, she was the youngest to be accepted into the college.

Ms Carney has shared the stage with many of the world’s leading artists, including Isaac Stern, Pinkas Zuckerman, and Frederica Von Stade. Her summer appearances have taken her to Aspen, Lincoln’s Mostly Mozart, and many other festivals. Currently professor of violin at the Manhattan School, her frequent guest master classes have taken her across the continent. Her violin is by Carlo Tononi, Venice, 1763.

Violist Daniel Avshalomov, the son of the composer and conductor Jacob Avshalomov, began his training in Oregon and after a year’s study abroad with Orrea Pernel and members of the Amadeus Quartet, took his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Juilliard. Mr Avshalomov served an unprecedented five years as principal violist of Juilliard’s orchestra and was the first violist in the school’s history to be awarded the Loeb Award for outstanding achievements.

Before joining The American Quartet, Mr Avshalomov was principal violist for the orchestras of the Spoleto, Tanglewood and Aspen festivals, performed as soloist for the Bolshoi Ballet, and was a founding member of Orpheus Chamber Ensemble. His essays of criticisms continue to appear in respectable musical journals and he has prepared editions of contemporary viola works for publication.

For balance, Mr Avshalomov climbs mountains and his most recent recording, Three Generations Avshalomovs, was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and in Classical Pulse. His instrument is by Andrea Amati, Cremona, 1568.

Cellist David Gerber, born in Los Angeles, comes from a family of professional cellists. He began his studies with his mother and later studied at the Eastman School of Music and at Juilliard. While completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Juilliard, Mr Gerber received numerous cello and chamber music awards.

He has concertized in most of the world’s major music venues and recorded extensively. He frequently gives recitals and master classes throughout the United States. An active teacher, Mr Gerber is a member of the cello and chamber music faculties and chairman of the string department at Manhattan School, in addition to his faculty affiliation with the Aspen Music Festival. His cello is G B Ruggieri from 1667.

The program of November 4 will consist of Quartet in D, K499, nicknamed “Hoffmeister,” by Mozart; the Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Opus 100; and after intermission, Quartet in E-flat, Opus 51 by Antonin Dvorak.

Tickets for the concert are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors. Children between the ages of five and 14 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

Newtown Friends of Music concerts begin at 3 pm and are followed by an informal reception. CDs will be available at the box office. Early reservations are advised. For information and reservations call 426-6470 or send email to FriendsOfMusic@snet.net.