For Immediate Release 
Contact:  David Mayhew for Cohn Dutcher Associates
(203) 453-4275     david@davidmayhew.net

THE PARKER STRING QUARTET, CARAMOOR'S
2006-07 ERNST STIEFEL STRING QUARTET-IN-RESIDENCE
OFFERS THREE FAMILY-APPROPRIATE CONCERTS ON
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Katonah, NY - The Parker String Quartet, the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts 2006-07 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, will offer three concerts during the weekend of November 11 and 12, 2006, all of which are family-appropriate.  On Saturday, November 11 at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm the Quartet will give two Family Music Program performances and on Sunday, November 12 at 4:00 pm they will play a program of Mozart and Schumann as the final Fall 2006 Caramoor Classics event. 

The Parker String Quartet is the winner of the 2005 Concert Artists Guild International Competition and the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition.  Founded in May of 2002, the Quartet quickly established itself as a dynamic young chamber ensemble.  Its New York area appearances have included Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Symphony Space, and it will make its Lincoln Center debut this season. 

The Parker String Quartet's members are Daniel Chong, violin; Karen Kim, violin; Jessica Bodner, viola; and Kee-Hyun Kim, cello. 

As String Quartet-in-Residence at Caramoor, the Parker String Quartet also participates in Caramoor's Student Strings Program, which provides an opportunity for middle and high school string players to work with professional musicians.  The Quartet visits area schools for "Concerts and Conversations" and offers a clinic at Caramoor for selected students.  Students and their families also receive discounted tickets or free vouchers to attend the Quartet's Caramoor Classics performance.

Stepping Stones to Music

Caramoor Classics concerts and Family Music Programs are part of Caramoor's Stepping Stones to Music.  "Our Stepping Stones to Music initiative is designed to foster a life-long appreciation for music," said Caramoor's Chief Executive and General Director, Michael Barrett.  "These interactive concerts, along with special events at the House Museum offer programs for children of every age." 

Saturday, November 11 - Family Music Program

The Parker String Quartet's two Family Music Program performances on Saturday, November 11 at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm will introduce very young children to the family of stringed instruments and demonstrate how four musicians working as a team can create one gorgeous sound.  Playing Erik Jorgen Jorgensen's composition Aaponi's Destiny, the Quartet will lead the audience on a musical journey through a day in the life of a mayfly.  The audience will create the mayfly's adventures during its one day of life - at each juncture in the program the children and adults will decide what exciting adventure comes next!  This interactive, 45-minute to one hour long program will be held in the Diane Moss Education Center at Caramoor and is geared to young attention spans ages three and up.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sunday, November 12 - Caramoor Classics

The Quartet's Caramoor Classics concert on Sunday, November 12 at 4:00 pm will feature Mozart's Quartet in G Major, K. 387; Ligeti's Quartet No. 1 Metamorphoses nocturnes, and Schumann's Quartet in A minor, Op. 41, No. 1.  This concert will take place in the 200-seat Music Room of the House Museum, the residence of Caramoor's founders, Walter and Lucie Rosen.  Described by Caramoor's Chief Executive and General Director, Michael Barrett, as "perhaps the most elegant and intimate performance space in the metropolitan area" it is richly decorated with an extraordinary collection of original Renaissance paintings, sculpture and tapestry, and Asian art.

Caramoor Classics concerts are less formal than other Music Room performances and are appropriate for children eight years and older and their families.  These concerts include comments from the artists about the program and last approximately two hours.

Tickets

Tickets for the Parker String Quartet's Caramoor Classics performance are $25.  The Family Music Program concert is $10 per single ticket and there is a special Family Price of $45 for families of five or more.

For tickets call the Caramoor Box Office at 914.232.1252 or visit www.caramoor.org.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, New York.

About Caramoor

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built the great house and filled it with their treasures. Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, bringing to reality his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.  Their musical evenings were the seeds of the International Music Festival of today.  Realizing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor - the house with its art collection; the gardens; and the musical programs on summer evenings - the Rosens established a Foundation to open Caramoor to the public in perpetuity.

Caramoor is easy to get to by car or mass transportation. By train, take the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Railroad to Katonah, New York. Taxi service from the station to Caramoor (5 minutes away) is available. By car: Take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Katonah. Exit at Route 35/Cross River. Turn right, and at the first traffic light make a right turn onto Route 22 south. Travel 1.9 miles to junction of Girdle Ridge Road. Follow the signs to Caramoor. (Detailed directions: 914-232-5035, press 2 or visit www.caramoor.org).