The Quartet Program, in its 37th season as a seven-week workshop bringing together 36 of the world’s finest young musicians from age 14 to 30, makes its debut appearance at SUNY Fredonia this summer under the direction of its founder, Charles Castleman of the Eastman School of Music. Concerts and recitals will be open to the public.Admission to the student performances is a $5 contribution. Other donors may consider purchasing a Quartet Program Membership (which includes a season pass to all concerts) for $100 as a Patron or $75 as a Friend. A season pass is also available for $50.
This summer’s students, now in-residence at the Fredonia School of Music until the program ends July 30, have been accepted from 25 states in the U.S., and internationally from Canada, Japan and Korea. The program teaches them to perform one solo work and two string quartets, surrounds them with the working conditions of professional musicians, and improves their individual and ensemble skills. Participants gain musical and psychological insights from the dynamics of the group and from the program's emphasis on individuality and creativity. The distinguished private faculty, each member internationally acclaimed both as performer and teacher, daily guides the participants toward the most effective individual practice.
Top musicians as faculty
Chamber music coaches returning in 2006 will include Renato Bonacini and Einar Holm for their thirtieth season, and many faculty members who first attended The Quartet Program as students, including Diane Monroe for a 20th, Laura Bossert for an 18th, James Pember Lyon for a 17th, and Mark Rudoff for a 10th summer. New faculty members will include violist John Kochanowski of the Concord and Blair String Quartets and Vanderbilt faculty and cellist David Ying of the Ying String Quartet and Eastman faculty (David also was a student at QP and has performed five times at the program as a member of the Ying Quartet).
Alumni achievements
Alumni of the program have gone on to win prizes at the Tchaikovsky, Brussels, Munich, Naumburg, Leventritt and Szeryng solo competitions. In 40 professional ensembles, its alumni have won every major national and international chamber competition. They are represented by top concert managements and record companies and are represented in every important American symphony, chamber, opera and ballet orchestra. One out of three alumni of The Quartet Program who goes on to perform in an orchestra is either a Principal or Assistant Principal. They are employed in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and Venezuela.
Upcoming Concerts at SUNY Fredonia
(all in Rosch Recital Hall, Mason Hall, unless otherwise noted)
Guest Artist Recitals:
- Basil Vendryes, violist, performs works by Larsen, Tcimpidis, Carlson, Carter, and Gershwin on Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. Admission is $15.
- The Avalon String Quartet performs Mozart, Debussy and Beethoven. Saturday, June 24 at 8 p.m. Admission is $10.
Young Artists Of The Quartet recitals:
- Thursday, June 29 at 3 p.m.: solo performances featuring works by Beethoven, Fauré, Prokofiev, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Vieuxtemps
- Thursday, June 29 at 8 p.m.: quartet performances of Mozart’s K. 575, Shostakovich #8 and Smetana “From My Life.”
- Friday, June 30 at 8 p.m. (Diers Recital Hall): quartet performances of Beethoven’s Op. 135, Bartók #2 and Schubert A minor
- Saturday, July 1 at 3 p.m. (Diers Recital Hall): solo performances of music by Bartók, Bax, Chausson, Martinu, Piazzola, Tchaikovsky and Veracini
- Saturday, July 1 at 8 p.m.: quartet performances of Mozart’s K. 590, Barber and Hindemith Op. 32.
Quartet telephone number for 2006 season: 716-673-3517 (through July 2 as for Mark Rudoff or Nancy Nehring; July 2 to 9 ask for Allyson Dawkins; July 10 through 29, ask for Laura Bossert or Paula Majerfeld).
