TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Thalea String Quartet performed a dynamic chamber music concert at the White Concert Hall on Thursday evening as part of the ongoing concert series sponsored by On stage live.
The Thalea String Quartet is a doctoral string quartet from the University of Maryland. The quartet also held fellowships at the University of Texas at Austin and the San Francisco Conservatory.
They’ve shared the stage with luminaries from the world of chamber music, including members of the Emerson, Borromeo and St. Lawrence String Quartets, and they’ve performed alongside famous artists, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, violist Lawrence Power, acclaimed Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD and visionary hip-hop artist Jay Electronica.
The quartet is made up of:
- Christopher Whitley (violin) from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Kumiko Sakamoto (violin) from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (absent due to illness)
- Lauren Spaulding (viola) from San Antonio, Texas
- Titilayo Ayangade (cello) from Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dr. Zsolt Eder, Professor of Musical Arts at Washburn University (replacing Kumiko Sakamoto)
On Stage Live, originally known as the Topeka Community Concert Association, has brought world music to Topeka stages since the 1930s. They continue to fulfill the original mission of the Community Concert Association, providing world-class musical experiences to a Topeka audience and supporting the musicians who grace the stage.
The next stop in the On Stage Live Concert series is the Musical Comedy Team DUO BALDO Friday, March 18. Featuring acclaimed violinist Brad Repp and pianist/actor Aldo Gentileschi. Their critically acclaimed performances combine virtuoso performances, theatrical humor and pop culture.
