The Magnificent Eight
Just before Juneteenth, the Young Eight, an acclaimed ensemble of young African-American classical musicians, returns to town as part of the St. Cecilia Music Series
By Robert Faires, Fri., June 17, 2005
Just before Juneteenth, the Young Eight, an ensemble of young African-American classical musicians who have made Austin a regular stop on their increasingly busy national touring schedule, returns to town as part of the St. Cecilia Music Series of First Presbyterian Church. Violinists Mariana Green-Hill, Kenneth Jarvis, John H. Littlejohn, and Quinton I. Morris; violists Christopher Jenkins and Dawn Michelle Smith; and cellists Ryan Murphy and Tahirah Whittington joined forces at the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2002, and in the short time since their octet has become a recognized force for classical music education and advocate for classical compositions by African-American composers. After their St. Cecilia concert, which will feature octets by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, and Niels W. Gade, the Young Eight is off to Seattle for a week of concerts and seminars, but the group will return June 28 to lead a weeklong string seminar for 16 specially selected students at Huston-Tillotson University, a school where they have an ongoing residency.
The Young Eight in Concert: String Octets will take place Friday, June 17, 8pm, at First Presbyterian Church of Austin, 8001 Mesa. For more information, call 345-8866 or visit www.fpcaustin.org/music_arts/st_cecilia.html.