CYPRESS STRING QUARTET
Friday, February 27, 2009 // 8:00 PM // Church of the Good Shepherd
Singled out by Chamber Music Magazine as, “A Generation X ensemble to watch,” the Cypress String Quartet is reaching out in new ways to ignite interest in chamber music. Since its inception in 1996, the Cypress String Quartet has built a respected body of new music, commissioning and premiering over 25 works from many of America’s leading composers. To commemorate Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday in 2009, the Cypress and the Library of Congress have co-commissioned a new quartet from brilliant young American composer Kevin Puts. Paired with Mendelssohn and Beethoven quartets, Mr. Puts’ new work will premiere in February 2009 in Washington DC as part of the “Mendelssohn on the Mall” project in conjunction with the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Museum. Other recent Cypress commissions have come from 2005 Grawemeyer Award winning composer George Tsontakis, and Grammy nominees Benjamin Lees and Jennifer Higdon. Four original Cypress commissions are listed on Chamber Music America’s list of “101 Great American Ensemble Works.