The Amernet String Quartet will blend entertainment and education during a weeklong residency at West Virginia University.

The quartet will take the stage at a Sept. 29 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the law that created the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.

The event, set for 7 p.m. at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre in WVU’s Creative Arts Center, will also feature the premier of a video featuring students and faculty that articulates WVU’s commitment to the arts and humanities. Hosted by Provost Joyce McConnell, the presentation and recital are free and open to the public, and a reception will follow the concert in the Douglas O. Blaney Lobby.

Amernet will be joined in their Sept. 29 performance by Mikylah McTeer, associate professor of violin in WVU’s School of Music.

“The Amernet Quartet will be performing some of the most exciting and beautiful music from the string quartet repertoire: the Bartok Quartet No. 3 and Brahms’ second quartet,” said McTeer. “And I’m delighted to be joining the group for a performance of Loeffler’s gorgeous String Quintet. It will be an honor to collaborate with this world-class ensemble.”

The quartet will help the WVU Symphony Orchestra launch its season at a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, also in the Clay Concert Theatre. Amernet will join the Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Bohuslav Martinů’s “Concerto for String Quartet.”

“WVU and the Morgantown community are so fortunate to have Amernet, world-renowned for their vibrant performances, come to work with our students and perform for the public not just once, but twice,” said Mitchell Arnold, WVU’s director of orchestral activities and an associate professor.

The WVU Symphony Orchestra concert is free to all WVU students with a valid student ID. For concert tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

Members of the quartet will also conduct master classes at the Creative Arts Center, which are free and open to the public. Three will take place simultaneously at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. A violin master class will be held in the Clay Concert Theatre. A viola master class will be held in room 213A. A cello and bass master class will be held in room 440A. Amernet will also offer a master class with the WVU Graduate String Quartet at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, in room 424A of the Creative Arts Center.

Members of the Amernet String Quartet are Misha Vitenson, violin; Tomas Cotik, violin; Michael Klotz, viola; and Jason Calloway, cello.

The quartet has garnered recognition as one of today’s exceptional string quartets and are Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami. Their sound has been called “complex” but with an “old world flavor.” Strad Magazine described the Amernet as “a group of exceptional technical ability.”

Amernet’s visit to WVU is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the College of Creative Arts Office of the Dean.

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CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304-293-3397; David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu

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