MEDIA RELEASES

Jessica Mackinnon

jmack@dom.edu

(708) 524-6289

Dominican University’s performing arts center will present the dynamic Pacifica Quartet on Sunday, February 17 at 3:00 p.m. in Lund Auditorium, 7900 W. Division Street, River Forest. A pre-concert lecture by Henry Fogel, revered former president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will be offered at 2:00 p.m.

Recognized for its virtuosity and exuberant performance style, the Pacifica Quartet is performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s complete string quartets in six locations throughout the Chicago area during the 2007-2008 season. The Dominican concert will feature the Quartet in A major, op. 18, no. 5; the Quartet in B-flat major, op. 130; and the Grosse Fuge in B-flat major, op 133.

The Pacifica Quartet has been praised as one of the country’s finest and most energetic young quartets since its founding in 1994. Winners of several leading international competitions, the quartet was honored in 2002 with a Cleveland Quartet Award and an appointment to Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s CMS Two program for gifted young musicians. The quartet is only the second chamber music ensemble to receive a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

The members of the Pacifica Quartet, violinist Simin Ganatra, cellist Brandon Vamos, violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson and violist Masumi Rostad, are on the faculty and serve as quartet in residence at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They also are resident performing artists at the University of Chicago.

President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association for 18 years, Henry Fogel revolutionized the association’s educational programs and oversaw the completion and expansion of Orchestra Hall. He currently serves as a professor at Roosevelt University’s College of Performing Arts.

Tickets for this concert are $20 and $5 (students 25 and under). For more information or to order tickets, call Dominican University’s box office at (708) 488-5000 or visit www.dom.edu/pac.