WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (August 8, 2016) — Monmouth University is pleased to announce that the Simon String Quartet and colleagues will again present free classical chamber music concerts as part of its Summer String-In workshop. The performances, which are free and open to the public, will take place in historic Wilson Hall on August 9 and 11.
The Simon String Quartet (Fiona Simon and Sebu Sirinian, violins; Lisa Suslowicz, viola; David Bakamjian, cello) is “a special group of four seasoned performers whose passion for chamber music infuses their collaboration with energy and dynamism.” Led by Fiona Simon, a member of the New York Philharmonic, its members each combine careers in chamber music and orchestras, and as soloists and teachers. Although currently based in New York, where they individually perform with some of the most distinguished ensembles in the area, their performing careers have taken them all over the world.
The Summer String-In, now in its twelfth season, is an intensive week-long music workshop for adult amateur string players that takes place on the campus of Monmouth University.
On Tuesday, August 9, at 7:30 p.m., the Simon Quartet will perform two masterworks from the String Quartet repertoire: Beethoven’s Quartet in C Major, Opus 59, No. 3, with its riveting fugal finale, and Brahms’s Quartet No. 2 in A Minor.
On Thursday August 11, at 8 p.m., members of the Simon Quartet will be joined by violist Kim Foster and cellist Joseph Kimura to play Dvorak’s Quintet, Opus 97, and the rarely heard Sextet by English composer Frank Bridge.