A rare opportunity to hear a world-class string quartet is coming to Prince Rupert this Sunday, April 2.
The Borealis String Quartet, in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Music Festival, will be making an appearance at the Lester Centre of the Arts for a 7:30 p.m. showing, and they won’t be alone.
The show will include two pianists from Terrace and Kitimat as well as a clarinetist and violinist from Terrace, who will join the foursome on-stage for a few performances.
The quartet will also be performing in Terrace on March 31 and Kitimat on April 1.
“We’ve always tried to include outreach, mentoring and teaching a part of the festival to encourage people,” said Bonnie Juniper, president of the Pacific Northwest Music Festival.
“Bringing a group like this, they’ll come and do a little bit of coaching while they’re here, and working with people that want their input.”
The Borealis String Quartet has played in their hometown of Vancouver and they are quartet-in-residence at Langley’s Kwantlen Polytechnic University. They have also played in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and even Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Rome, Shanghai, Taipei and Beijing.
While overseas they play a variety of classical pieces and are noted most for the fiery passion they bring.
Juniper connected the music festival with the quartet and she’s thrilled about the prospect of having such high-level talent perform in the northwest with younger musicians.
“It’s really exciting for young people to play with people like this. We’ll have a young violinist sitting in, playing her part, and it’s a huge honour and it really sparks interest,” Juniper said.
Borealis String Quartet’s performances will also raise awareness for the music program at Kwantlen and the Pacific Northwest Music Festival itself is set to take place from April 20 to May 2 in Terrace.
The festival will feature music students from Prince Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat.
Tickets for Borealis String Quartet can be purchased at Cook’s Jewellers and the Lester Centre.
Discounts are available for students and seniors.
The show takes place this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Lester Centre.