Boston String Quartet will wow you on Sunday, February 21

Arts Council of Tamworth is delighted to present the vibrant and original Boston String Quartet on Sunday, February 21, at 1:30 p.m. at Saint Andrew’s Church in Tamworth, NH (directions here). Since its formation 2004, the Boston String Quartet has been a creative leader in contemporary classical music in New England. Having made its professional debut at Carnegie Hall, the quartet performs its own arrangements of classical chamber music, rock, jazz, world music and more, and is continually “exploring different ways of sparking musical interest” [Boston Globe]. The members hail respectively from American, Russia, Taiwan and Japan, and bring a combined wealth of musical experience to their shared endeavor. You haven’t heard anything until you’ve heard them play Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” At intermission you will have an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists at a reception with refreshments hosted by the ACT board.

First violinist, founder and music director Christopher Vuk received his B.M. Summa Cum Laude on scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Hi is also an alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa and Longy School of Music. Described by the Boston Ballet as an “electrifying violinist,” Vuk has performed with distinguished artists such as Gloria Estefan, Bill Cosby, and Jennifer Holliday, as well as a special appearance on Sesame Street. He has played for audiences as varied as Queen Rainia of Jordan, Queen Noor, Mitt Romney, and First Lady Laura Bush. Vuk is the recipient of the Certificate of Congressional Commendation, and is currently the director of the contemporary music school School of Groove.

Second violinist Anastasia Sukhopara was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her interest in music prompted her parents to bring her to a music school when she was six years old where she started studying violin and piano. She studied at St. Petersburg Conservatory’s School for the Musically Gifted before being awarded a World Scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she took a Performance Degree in contemporary styles of music. In addition to her classical music career, Anastasia enjoys collaborations with artists outside the classical arena.

Born in Taiwan, Chen Lin began to play viola at the age of eleven. She attended Taipei Municipal University of Education, Taiwan, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Education, with the honor of Second Prize of the Music Department. In 2007, she earned her Master’s Degree from The Boston Conservatory as a full scholarship student. Chen Lin has won awards at many competitions. She has performed in the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has been principal violist of the Boston Conservatory Orchestra and of the Boston University Symphony Orchestra.

Cellist Masanori Taniguchi has a B.S. and an M.S. in Chronobiology from Kyoto University, Japan, and also holds a Master of Music and a Graduate Performance Diploma in Cello Performance from the Boston Conservatory. Masanori played the piano as a child. He began to play the cello at the age of 18, and decided to pursue music as a career when he was 23. Masanori has often appeared as a substitute player in major professional orchestras in Osaka. In September of 2007 Masanori became a member of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.

To date, the Boston String Quartet has released the independent albums Spectrum and On Christmas Eve, and is currently recording on Boston-based classical label Navona Recordings. Their most recent albums with Navona are Xibus and Contrasts. Committed to music education in the Boston metro area, the BSQ is currently ensemble in residence at School of Groove.

These four talented musicians will knock your socks off with their skill and range, whether they’re playing Dvorak and Mozart, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin, or the Beatles and Queen, and you can sample their music here. Tickets for this exciting performance will be on sale at the door are available below. Tickets are also available at The Other Store in Tamworth Village or by calling 603-323-8104. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students 13 to 18 and college students with a valid ID. Kids 12 & under are free, but require a ticket reservation to guarantee a seat. More info about online ticket purchasing can be found here.

This concert is made possible through the generous support of Sponsors BEAM Construction, Meredith Village Savings Bank, and The Tamworth Inn, Co-sponsors Interlakes Family Dental, New England Bookkeeping, and Maureen Westrick, Architect, Media Sponsor 93.5 WMWV | Magic 104FM and Press Partners The Conway Daily Sun and The Mountain Ear.