The internationally acclaimed Daedalus Quartet will perform works by Dvorak and Brahms and will include talented students from Bellport and Shoreham High Schools for the Finale of Felix Mendelssohn's “Octet.” 

This performance is part of the Quartet’s three year residency in eastern Long Island made possible by a grant from Chamber Music America.  As the recipient of Chamber Music America’s 2007 Guarneri String Quartet Award, the Quartet received a prestigious three year grant to support master classes, coaching sessions, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and interactive concerts.  These events were designed in partnership with several community partners: the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport, the South Country Education Foundation, South Country School District, Shoreham-Wading River School District, North Babylon School District, and the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. 

The members of the Quartet are Min-Young Kim and Kyu-Young Kim, both violinists; Jessica Thompson, violist; and Raman Ramakrishnan, cellist. The dream and inspiration for the Quartet’s Long Island residency grew out of their long-time relationship with Gene Westhoff, President of the South Country Education Foundation.  Since 2002, the Quartet has performed an annual fundraising concert for the Foundation to raise scholarship money for South Country music students, accompanied by a day of performing and coaching in the schools.  The Daedalus Quartet’s commitment to the area stems from the fact that the Kims and Mr. Ramakrishnan grew up in East Patchogue and progressed through the South Country School District’s public schools; they played together for the first time in Bellport High School’s Baroque Ensemble.  The Quartet and Westhoff forged relationships with the community partners to bring this project to fruition, working collaboratively to design a three-year plan to reach far into these communities, seeking to inspire students and adults through interactive performances, to raise the level of student string players, to bring together students from three very different school districts, and to build new audiences for chamber music.

The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) is a full-time mixed-use venue, whose mission is to serve as a cultural center for Long Island, by showcasing a broad spectrum of performing arts for the benefit of a wide-ranging audience at affordable prices.  PTPA made a commitment to Chamber music in 2006 and presented the Winter Chamber Music Series and the Autumn Chamber Music Series in 2007, with three concerts in each series featuring international, award-winning musicians presenting contemporary and classical music themes for the entire family.  In addition to their chamber music series, PTPA has continue to grow their programs in the fine arts with performance such as The Nilas Martins Dance Company, featuring dancers from the New York City Ballet, who made their second appearance at PTPA in November 2007.  In addition, The Atlantic Winds Symphony and the Long Island Philharmonic have made repeated appearances, calling PTPA one of their “home” venues.   By hosting several key events during the course of the Daedalus’ three year residency, the Patchogue Theatre will provide the ideal setting for students, families and community members to hear the Daedalus Quartet and the student performers.   

Chamber Music America, the national service organization for the ensemble music profession, was founded in 1977 to promote artistic excellence and economic stability within the field, and to ensure that chamber music, in its broadest sense, is a vital part of American life.  With a membership of over 8,000, including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists’ managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes and represents a wide range of musical styles and traditions