Classical quartet to perform at Houston Center

Classical music fans are in for a treat this month when Northwest Missouri State University brings the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet to campus for the next installment of the Encore performing arts series.

One of the premier string ensembles in the country, the quartet will be accompanied by noted pianist Shai Wosner.

Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 11, at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets cost $23 for adults and $13 for children. Northwest students will be admitted free.

Known for bringing classical music to nightclubs and other non-traditional venues, the Parker Quartet began touring professionally in 2002. Since then, the group has won prizes at such prestigious events as the Concert Artists Guild Competition and the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition. The chamber ensemble also received the Cleveland Quartet Award for performances during the 2009-'11 seasons.

The quartet's "Best Chamber Music Performance" Grammy came in 2010 for its recording of
String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 by the late contemporary composer György Ligeti.

Engaged as Quartet-in-Residence with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra from 2008 through 2010, the ensemble became the first-ever Artists-in-Residence with Minnesota Public Radio during the 2009-2010 season.

This year, they will be in residence at the University of Minnesota, working with students and teaching instrumental music at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Wosner, who in addition to his solo concert career is known for various chamber music collaborations, has performed with the Parker Quartet at both Amherst College and Carnegie Hall.

In 2010, he won critical praise for a debut appearance with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, conducting from the keyboard in a performance that was broadcast on American Public Radio.

Wosner has also appeared with a number of major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

The final performance of this year's Encore series will take place on April 11 when poet Bill Trowbridge and guitarist Bob Walkenhorst present an evening of verse set to music.

Encore tickets are available at the Student Services Center on the first floor of the Administration Building on the Northwest campus from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by calling (660) 562-1212.