Culture Flash!

William Fedkenheuer

Culture Flash!

• The Miró Quartet is a full foursome again. Most of this year, the resident string quartet at UT's Butler School of Music has been auditioning successors to second violinist Sandy Yamamoto, who retired from the group in May after 15 years. But now, the ensemble has settled on a permanent new member, William Fedkenheuer, late of the Fry Street Quartet, the Caine College of the Arts' faculty string quartet-in-residence at Utah State University, and also a former member of the prestigious Borromeo Quartet. In announcing Fedkenheuer's selection, first violinist Daniel Ching notes that his new colleague is an old friend who is "altogether a perfect fit for the Miró's new chapter." Cellist Joshua Gindele echoes that sentiment, stating that Fedkenheuer "is malleable, plays with incomparable conviction, and brings a huge amount of experience to the chair. The fit is perfect, and we are exceedingly delighted to welcome him." The new Miró member officially joins the quartet – and the Butler School faculty – this fall.

• The Austin Classical Guitar Society recently received one of those calls – you know, the kind that drops your stomach through the floor. Juan Carlos Laguna, the acclaimed Mexican guitarist who was slated to close out Pasión!, ACGS' very successful summer concert series of Latin music, would be unable to perform due to an unexpected family emergency. The concert was just weeks away, but Executive Director Matt Hinsley was determined to find a replacement – preferably one from Mexico. Well, Fortuna smiled, as Hinsley was able to engage Mexico native Dieter Hennings for the "Viva México!" program this weekend. An assistant professor of guitar at the University of Kentucky, the prize-winning Hennings is noted for promoting new music. He will perform Saturday, July 30, 4 & 7:30pm, at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River. For more information, call 300-2247 or visit www.austinclassicalguitar.org.

• Given the phenomenal response generated by The Trash Project's premiere two years ago – 2,000 people storming the rain-soaked tarmac at Austin Studios – it's not too soon to start making plans to attend its revival on Aug. 27 & 28. And producing company Forklift Danceworks has made that easy for you with a reservation system it opened on its website this week. Yes, the show is free and it's running two nights and there will be room for 4,000 people, but Forklift is requiring reservations. Just go to www.forkliftdanceworks.org to reserve your spot. But while you're there, check out the blog that Artistic Director Allison Orr has been writing about the revival. Rehearsals on the tarmac at 102 degrees? Yow!