Internationally acclaimed Formosa Quartet launches weeklong residency at Eastern Michigan University

Internationally acclaimed Formosa Quartet launches weeklong residency at Eastern Michigan University

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University’s School of Music & Dance will welcome the world renowned Formosa Quartet—violinists Jasmine Lin and Wayne Lee, violist Che-Yen Chen and an EMU professor of cello, Deborah Pae—for a week-long chamber music residency from Feb. 12-17.

Praised for their “spellbinding virtuosity” (BBC Music Magazine), the Formosa Quartet has given critically acclaimed performances throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They received both the First Prize and Amadeus Prize at the 2006 London International String Quartet Competition.

Members of the quartet have held faculty positions at the University of Southern California, McGill University, and the Juilliard School.

They will lead Eastern’s young professional artists in a series of master classes, open rehearsals and workshops on performance, community engagement, and career development. Their residency will conclude with two major performances.

The Formosa Quartet’s first performance in Michigan will take place on February 15 in EMU’s Pease Auditorium, at 7:30 p.m. They will perform celebrated American composer Joel Puckett’s concerto for string quartet and wind symphony “Short Stories,” with EMU’s Wind Symphony, led by conductor Mary K. Schneider.

On February 16, at the EMU Honors College, Formosa will present a special evening concert at 7:30 p.m., featuring masterworks by Schubert, Dvořák, and Beethoven, along with music by Wei-Chieh Lin in honor of the Lunar New Year and the ensemble’s Taiwanese heritage. An exclusive Meet & Greet and CD signing with the artists-in-residence will follow this performance.

All events during this residency are free and open to the public. View the complete residency events schedule.

Eastern Michigan University’s School of Music & Dance provides comprehensive, nationally recognized programs to approximately 350 majors. For more information, please call Deborah Pae at 201-754-5969, or email dpae@emich.edu.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

February 07, 2018

Written by:
Alyssa Schad

Media Contact:
Geoff Larcom
glarcom@emich.edu
734-487-4400