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A List
9/19/05
ST. LAWRENCE HOSTS ALEXANDER STRING QUARTET
CANTON - "Celebrating Mozart" is the theme of a concert by the Alexander String Quartet,
artists-in-residence at St. Lawrence University, on Thursday, September 29, at
7:30 p.m. in Gulick Theatre on campus. The event is open to the public, free of charge.
The year 2006 marks the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, and the 25th anniversary of
the Alexander String Quartet. Throughout its 2005-2006 performing season, the quartet
will offer special programming marking both occasions.
Since 1981, the Alexander String Quartet has distinguished itself in all aspects of chamber
music. Hailed for its "dream-come-true performances" (Boston Globe), the Quartet tours
annually throughout North America and Europe. Less than a year after its founding, the
Alexander became the first string quartet ever to win the prestigious Concert Artists Guild
award. Three years later, the Quartet again made history by becoming the first American
quartet to win First Prize and the Audience Prize at the London International String Quartet
Competition.
The Alexander String Quartet includes Zakarias Grafilo, violin; Frederick Lifsitz, violin;
Paul Yarbrough, viola; and Sandy Wilson, cello. In 2000, the Alexander String Quartet
received an honorary degree from St. Lawrence, at Commencement.
At home in San Francisco, the members of the Alexander are a major artistic presence, both
as Ensemble in Residence with San Francisco Performances, and as directors of the Morrison
Center for the Advanced Study of Chamber Music at San Francisco State University.
Committed to the performance of chamber music from all eras, the Quartet is noted for its
many commissioning grants and premieres of new works.
In 1995, the Quartet was invited to record the complete Beethoven quartet cycle for
BMG's Munich-based label, Arte Nova Classics. These releases have received rave reviews
and are available in boxed format throughout Europe and the United States. Their
recordings are also available on the Gallo, Foghorn and CRI labels.
They will be in residence at the University from September 28 through 30, visiting
classes in a variety of departments and providing master classes for music students.
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The Alexander String Quartet Web site
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