Thursday, May 26, 2011

ArtsLink.co.za: Catalyst Quartet Includes Music of Ugandan Composer Justinian Tamusuza on South African Program




[Catalyst Quartet; Justinian Tamusuza]

WSOA - Wits School of Arts
05/25/2011
“The Catalyst Quartet is comprised of top laureates and alumni of the acclaimed Sphinx Competition for young black and Latino string players. Presented by Wits School of Arts / WitsMusic, The Catalyst Quartet will performing at Wits early in June. The mission of the ensemble is to advance diversity in classical music and inspire new and young audiences with dynamic performances of cutting-edge repertoire by a wide range of composers. Founded by the Sphinx Organization, members of the Catalyst Quartet combine a serious commitment to diversity, excellence and education with a passion for accessible modern works.

“Graduates of top music schools in the United States, including the Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music, the Catalyst Quartet serves as principal faculty at the Sphinx Performance Academy at Oberlin College and Roosevelt College in Chicago, Illinois, and as visiting teaching artists at the Sphinx Preparatory Music Institute hosted by the Detroit Symphony." "Members of the ensemble have performed as part of the annual national Sphinx Chamber Orchestra Tour, which has met with critical acclaim since its inception in 2008."

“The performance will present works of contemporary masters, including string quartets by Philip Glass and Michael Nyman, as well as works by Terry Riley, Astor Piazzolla, Anton von Webern and Justinian Tamusuza. Glass, now the elder statesman amongst American composers, has achieved international recognition as a 20th century master, through a wide range of compositions, and is especially famous for his operas Akhnaten, and Einstein on the Beach, while Nyman is known not only for his orchestral and instrumental works but also for his contributions to the art of film music with scores for such features as The piano and Prospero’s Books.

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