TUNKHANNOCK — A special free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 13 for Mother’s Day at the Dietrich Theater features the Madison String Quartet. The Dietrich Theater welcomes back this renowned, energetic and inventive programming that explores the literature of Hispanic music and also blurs the line between performer and audience, making classical music accessible to all. For the second year in a row, this concert is a gift of a friend to the community. The concert is free with a suggested donation of $10.
Since 2008, the Madison String Quartet has been quartet-in-residence at the Kenai Peninsula Summer Festival in Alaska. In 2010, the quartet performed at the Museum of the City of New York by Musica de Camara. Other highlights include a performance at Carnegie Hall and engagements for Friends of Music in Westchester, Mozart and Friends in Princeton and the Rhinebeck Chamber Series.
First Violinist Evelyn Estava is recognized as one of the top performing artists in her native Venezuela. She has made many guest appearances with orchestras in North and South America, including the Mexico State Symphony, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Falcon. She performs regularly with the Harrisburg Symphony, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and the NJ Festival Orchestra. As winner of the Artists International Special Presentation Award, Estava made her New York debut in 2005 at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
Violinist Rebecca Harris-Lee has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles across the region, ranging from the NJ Festival Orchestra, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic to appearances on Broadway. She received degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute. In addition to her performance career, she maintains an active teaching studio in Montclair, NJ.
Violinist/Violist Michael Avagliano has performed with the New Jersey Symphony, the Singapore Symphony, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He is currently concertmaster of the Baroque Orchestra of North Jersey and the Metropolitan Orchestra. Praised for his versatility as a musician, Avagliano covers a wide variety of musical genres, having worked with artists ranging form Jaime Laredo and Seiji Ozawa to the Moody Blues and Ray Charles.
Cellist Gerall Hieser received her Master of Music degree from Mason Gross School for the Arts at Rutgers University. In the 1980s, she began playing Southern Appalachian style fiddle and traveled to North Carolina and Virginia to study with some legendary old fiddlers. A devoted cello teacher, she maintains an active studio in Bernardsville, New Jersey and at Drew University. A founding member of the Madison String Quartet, she performs with the Gabriel Chamber, as well.
One of the fans of the Madison String Quartet compares their interpretation of music to the magical interpretations of conductor Gustavo Dudamel who has made classical music so accessible and appealing to a wide audience. For reservations, call 570-996-1500. Tickets available at the door as long as they last.
