Tesla String Quartet concludes Arts at Noon

The 38th season of the Arts at Noon concert series concludes April 13 with the award-winning ensemble, Tesla String Quartet.

Formed at The Julliard School in 2008, the quartet has quickly established itself as one of the most promising young ensembles around the globe. The quartet has won numerous prizes and awards at international competitions, including the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, 2012 London International String Quartet Competition, and 2013 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition. 

The quartet is comprised of Ross Snyder, violin, Michelle Lie, violin, Edwin Kaplan, viola, and Serafim Smigelskiy, cello. The ensemble has been performing across the U.S., Austria, England and France during its current 2015-16 season.

When the quartet's tour stops at Grand Valley, the ensemble will perform a string quartet by Haydn, a lyric serenade by Hugo Wolf and "Prayer of the Bullfighter" by Joaquin Turina.

"This variety of technique will provide a great model for our string students and will give the audience a pleasing experience when hearing the great performances of these pieces," said Henry Duitman, Arts at Noon coordinator and GVSU Symphony Orchestra director.

Community involvement and outreach are integral aspects of the quartet's mission. The group strives to bring inspiring music to children's hospitals, soup kitchens, libraries, retirement communities and schools. They are currently the String Quartet-in-Residence in the Hickory, North Carolina, metro area through the sponsorship of the Western Piedmon Symphony. The residency included educational programs for children and seniors, as well as collaborations with local universities and community colleges.

All Arts at Noon concerts are free, open to the public, begin at noon, last approximately one hour and take place in the Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus.

For more information about the Arts at Noon concert series, call the Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484 or visit www.gvsu.edu/artsatnoon.