Emory University’s quartet-in-residence, The Vega String Quartet, will perform on March 21 in Howard Auditorium at 7 p.m. on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College as a part of the “ABAC Presents!” performing arts series.

The Vega String Quartet includes Domenic Salerni and Jessica Shuang Wu on violins; Yinzi Kong on viola; and Guang Wang on cello.  The Quartet made its Lincoln Center debut in 2001 and is on the cutting edge of the new generation of chamber music ensembles.  The musicians have toured throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.  The Quartet has appeared at Weill Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, and at Duke Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

The evening’s program includes Beethoven’s String Quartet in f minor, op. 95; David Kirkland Garner’s  “i ain’t broke (but I’m badly bent)”; and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2 which is part of the Op. 44 set of three string quartets that the composer dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden.

In 2006, the Vega String Quartet was named the first full-time quartet-in-residence at Emory. Since becoming the quartet-in-residence, major projects have included the complete cycle of Beethoven Quartets and numerous world premieres including works by Emory resident composers Steven Everett, John Anthony Lennon and Richard Prior. Quartet members have also developed several innovative programs with the Emory Dance Program.  The Quartet’s residency at Emory is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Abraham J. and Phyllis Katz Foundation.  

The Quartet is a frequent guest at numerous music festivals including Brevard, Highlands-Cashiers, Kingston, and Mostly Mozart. They captured four of the top six prizes at the 1999 Bordeaux String Quartet Competition as well as top prizes at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, the Carmel Chamber Music Competition, and the National Society of Arts and Letters String Quartet Competition.

The members of the Quartet frequently collaborate with some of the world’s finest musicians including Eliot Fisk, Richard Stoltzman, the Eroica Trio, the Ying Quartet, the St. Petersburg Quartet, and the vocal group Lionheart.  The Quartet’s live broadcast credits include National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”, the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, and the National Radio of the Czech Republic.

The Vega String Quartet served as the quartet-in-residence at the Van Cliburn Institute, was on the artist roster of Carnegie Hall’s New York City Neighborhood Concert series, and was the only string quartet on the Community Concerts Association roster.  

Tickets for The Vega String Quartet performance are $15 each for adults and $10 each for students under 18 years of age.  Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased online at www.artsconnection.ticketleap.com or by phone at (229) 391-4895.  

The final ABAC Presents! performance of the season will feature the ABAC Jazz Band on April 18.   This concert is free to the public, but a ticket is required for admittance.  The concert is part of the 35th Annual ABAC Jazz Festival.  

To learn more about the performances, interested persons can visit the “ABAC Presents!” web page at www.abac.edu/more/arts-connection/abac-presents-performing-arts-series.