Kontras Quartet next up in Wednesday night concert series

From left: Pogorelov, Hatmaker, Henkins and Ishida (Photo credit: Fanjoy Labrenz Photography)

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Kontras String Quartet, formed by WMU alumnus Francois Henkins, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at millerauditorium.com/som or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

The Kontras String Quartet is rapidly becoming one of the most vibrant young string quartets on the scene. The quartet began its professional touring career in 2009 and has been garnering acclaim ever since. Its members, violinists Dmitri Pogorelov and Henkins; violist Ai Ishida; and cellist Jean Hatmaker, hail from four different parts of the world. The Kontras Quartet has established an international reputation and is admired for their virtuosity and energy. A highlight of the 2014-15 season has been a year-long residency at WMU.

Bullock Music Performance Institute

Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute's mission is to add to the already rich cultural life of Kalamazoo by creating opportunities to develop closer personal and artistic ties between audience and performer. The institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for students and local audiences of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.

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