Classical Minnesota Public Radio to Host the Parker Quartet During a First-Ever Artists-in-Residency

Dec 15, 2009

Classical Minnesota Public Radio announced today its first-ever artists-in-residency, the Parker Quartet. The group will embark on a multi-tiered program throughout 2010--which includes appearances on Performance Today broadcasts, concerts throughout the region and at a non-traditional venue, The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. The group will also teach masters classes, and will host a national string quartet competition for aspiring classical musicians.

"We have long hoped to host an up-and-coming classical music group," says Brian Newhouse, senior producer, Classical Minnesota Public Radio. "When we met the Parker Quartet, we said, 'Yes-bingo!' They are so wonderful and generous with their performances and their can-do spirit about working together."

The Parker Quartet features rising stars in the classical music world. The New York Times calls the Parker Quartet "something extraordinary." The Boston Globe hails their "fiercely committed performances." The Washington Post declares them "a quartet that deserves close attention." Just three months after winning the 2005 Concert Artists Guild Competition, the Quartet captured First Prize and the Mozart Prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, sparking international acclaim. In 2009, the Parker Quartet was awarded the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award.

"The most exciting thing about this residency is the feeling of possibility," said Karen Kim, violinist for the Parker Quartet. "There is a great desire to support the arts in this community, and we can't wait to see how far we can take this."

As a significant community and cultural Minnesota institution, MPR works closely with organizations such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and others to bring fine musicians to larger audiences. MPR believes that accessibility is key to the future of classical music, and thus will provide low ticket prices for all of The Parker Quartet regional concerts.

The Parker Quartet's residency with Classical Minnesota Public Radio is sponsored in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, created by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment. State funding is used only for residency activities that take place in Minnesota.

More about the Parker Quartet

The Parker Quartet has distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation. The Parker Quartet began its professional touring career in 2002, and in 2005 sparked international acclaim by winning the Concert Artists Guild Competition as well as the Grand Prix and Mozart Prize at the 2005 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France. Most recently, the Quartet was awarded the prestigious 2009-2011 Cleveland Quartet Award.

The Parker Quartet are Daniel Chong (violin), Karen Kim (violin), Jessica Bodner (viola) and Kee-Hyun Kim (cello). Equally at home in a concert hall or a downtown club, the Parker Quartet has been profiled in Time Out NY, The Boston Globe, Chamber Music Magazine, and on Musical America.com for their pioneering performances in non-traditional venues. Each member holds graduate degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music.

The Parker Quartet is currently is in its second season as Quartet-in-Residence with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Quartet members are the first-ever Artists-in-Residence with Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. In addition to the Quartet's extensive international tours, recent U.S. appearances include performances at the Library of Congress, the Caramoor Center, Market Square Concerts and the Detroit Chamber Music Society.

The Parker Quartet's 2007 debut commercial recording (released by Zig-Zag Territoires), which featured Bartok's String Quartets Nos. 2 and 5, received high praise from industry critics including Gramophone. Their latest recording, of Gyorgy Ligeti's String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 and Andante & Allegretto, was released on the Naxos label in 2009 and will be available in stores this month.

For more information about the Parker Quartet, go to www.parkerquartet.com. Exclusive North American management for the Parker Quartet is provided by Opus 3 Artists, www.opus3artists.com/.

Copies of the Parker Quartet's most recent CD are available upon request.

The Parker Quartet to be heard on Performance Today broadcasts

Every first Thursday of the month, starting January 7, 2010 from 11 am.-1 p.m. CST, the Parker Quartet will join host Fred Child for a performance and chat on Performance Today. The broadcasts will go through summer 2010.

Tune in: Performance Today is heard weekdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST on all Classical Minnesota Public Radio stations and on classical public stations nationwide, and online at performancetoday.publicradio.org/.

Schedule of The Parker Quartet's regional concerts:

Bemidji: Thursday, January 21

7:30 p.m. Bemidji State University, Thompson Recital Hall in the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, Bemidji, MN Tickets: $20 adults / $5 students. MPR members receive a discount. For tickets, call 218-755-2915.

Sioux Falls: Saturday, January 23

2 p.m. Augustana College, Kresge Recital Hall, Sioux Falls, SD Tickets: $12 adults / $8 for seniors and students. MPR members receive a discount. For tickets, call 605-274-5320 or go online at augietickets.com.

Duluth: Tuesday, February 2

7:30 p.m. St Scholastica, Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth, MN Tickets: $17 adults / $5 students. MPR members receive a discount. For tickets, call 218-723-7000 or go online at www.css.edu/mitchell.xml.

Decorah: Thursday, March 4

7:30 p.m. Luther College, Jenson Nobel Recital Hall, Decorah, Iowa. Tickets: $15 adults / $10 seniors and students. Free to Luther College students. MPR members receive a discount. For tickets, call 563-387-1357 or go online at http://boxoffice.luther.edu.

Minneapolis: Thursday, April 15

7 p.m. The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN Tickets: $12/$10 for Minnesota Public Radio members. For tickets, go to varsitytheater.org.