Harlem Quartet to perform at MOC-FV Middle School and Unity Christian High: "Energetic, passionate, fun and… extremely musical." That's what the Kansas City Metropolis said of the Harlem Quartet. The Orange City Arts Council is sponsoring two school performances of the Harlem Quartet on Monday, Sept. 26. Pictured, left to right, are Juan Miguel Hernadez, viola, Paul Wiancko, cello, Melissa White, violin, and Ilmar Gavilan, violin.
ORANGE CITY – Panache: flamboyant confidence of style.
The New York Times used the word “panache” to describe the Harlem String Quartet’s recent performance.
Others rave on the Harlem Quartet too. Cincinnati.com said, “You haven’t lived until you have heard the Harlem Quartet play Billy Stayhorn’s ‘Take the “A” Train.’”
Kansas City Metropolis said, “Their program of rip-roaring all-string fare was energetic, passionate, fun and most importantly, extremely musical.”
The Harlem Quartet has played in the White House and on NBC’s Today Show. Their mission is to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery of varied repertoire. These performers/ teachers bring life to Ravel, Haydn, Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea.
Quartet members are Ilmar Gavilan, violin, who began studies in his native Cuba at the Havana Conservatory; Melissa White, violin, who debuted with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at age 14; Juan Miguel Hernandez, viola, who, in ’09, took the first prize at the 16th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria; and Paul Wiancko, cello, who, in ’06, was the only American to be invited to compete in the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition in Poland, winning second prize.
The Orange City Arts Council is sponsoring two school performances of Harlem String Quartet on Monday, Sept. 26. In the morning, the Quartet will do an assembly as MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School in Alton. In the afternoon, they will perform at Unity Christian High for strings students from Western Christian, Sioux Center Christian and Unity.
The Quartet will do an evening concert in Storm Lake Monday evening.
For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council, www.orangecityarts.net, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, 712-707-4885. Or visit the website www.harlemquartet.com.
