Release: Harlem Quartet Makes Its San Diego Debut

MEDIA CONTACT
JOANNA SZU
858.822.3199
jszu@ucsd.edu

Harlem Quartet Makes Its San Diego Debut
Performing Works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn,
Dizzy Gillespie, and Rafael Hernández Marín

La Jolla, C.A.—Praised for its “panache” by the New York Times, the Harlem Quartet is “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing, and intelligent” (Cincinnati Enquirer). Since its debut in 2006 at Carnegie Hall, this New York–based ensemble has performed throughout the U.S. and worldwide, including at The White House for President Obama. On stage at ArtPower on Friday, February 19, at 8 p.m., the Harlem Quartet will make its San Diego debut with a diverse program—Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18; Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 44; and arrangements of Dizzy Gillespie: Night in Tunisia and Rafael Hernández Marín: El Cumbanchero. The evening performance is part of ArtPower’s chamber music series and takes place at the Department of Music’s Conrad Prebys Concert Hall at UC San Diego, with a pre-performance ArtTalk at 7 p.m. at The Loft. Tickets for event are $36–54 and can be ordered online at boxoffice.ucsd.edu or by calling the box office at 858.534.TIXS (8497). Additional program information can be found at artpower.ucsd.edu.

The quartet—consisting of violinists Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White; violist Jaime Amador; and cellist Felix Umansky—is passionate about advancing diversity in classical music and engaging young audiences through the discovery of repertoire that includes works by minority composers. While in San Diego, the quartet will also give a workshop and performance for the students at The Preuss School, UC San Diego.

About the Chamber Music Series
The UC San Diego campus community has always enjoyed chamber music performances, a tradition established by many of our founding faculty members. The origins of our Chamber Music series have their roots in the university concert series inaugurated in 1963. In 1996, Robert and Sonia Hamburger, both avid chamber music supporters and both on the faculty at UC San Diego, established the Hamburger Endowment Fund. When ArtPower was created in 2004, the Chamber Music series became an integral part of the program.

About ArtPower
ArtPower at UC San Diego builds creative experiences in music, dance, film, exhibition, and food for our collective pleasure and inspiration. We engage diverse audiences through vibrant, challenging, multi-disciplinary performances by emerging and renowned international artists. Through extensive partnerships, ArtPower provides exciting opportunities for research, participation, and creation of new work, igniting powerful dialogue between artists, students, scholars, and the community.

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