Happy Summer!

1. Ring of Fire CD

2. Quartetfest

3. Memories of Ring of Fire Concert

4. Memories of Leakey Event

5. Spring Fundraising Drive

1. Ring of Fire CD

It’s here! After six months of intensive work, we have released our new CD, “Ring of Fire: Music of the Pacific Rim” (on the Other Minds Records label). It includes “Spiral X: In Memoriam” by Chinary Ung, which Del Sol premiered at the Library of Congress this past fall, and pieces by other contemporary Pacific Rim composers such as Gabriela Lena Frank, Hyo-shin Na, Kui Dong and Jack Body. You can buy it through our website or from Other Minds. It will also be available from retailers later this summer.

2. Quartetfest

June 30th – July 3rd

Del Sol String Quartet will be presenting an expanded 4-day intensive QuartetFest this summer, June 30th through July 3rd. It will take place at the beautiful Pacific Heights home of Steven and Sara Khan in San Francisco that they are so generously donating for the event.

As one of San Francisco's premier string quartet training workshops for young chamber musicians, QuartetFest is a great opportunity for young string players to immerse themselves in the art of rehearsal and performance of the string quartet repertoire. One of Del Sol’s delights is to expose the students to a variety of contemporary music and improvisation during the course of the workshop. Often the students not only perform on their stringed instruments but also demonstrate their talent as composers or improvisers or both!
This year, jazz violinist Jeremy Cohen joins the members of the Del Sol String Quartet as their special guest artist, offering his expertise in coaching improvisation and various jazz and tango styles. A fun event for all, the QuartetFest ends with a concert presented by the students followed by a festive potluck dinner. We even have QuartetFest t-shirts, designed by artist Kris Yenney, for participants, friends and family. Contact Kate Stenberg for more info.

left to right: Grace Lu (violin), James Stoner (violin), Edwin Lai (cello), Hannah "Bing" Addario-Berry photo by Rick Shinozaki

3. Memories of Ring of Fire Concert

It was a fabulous experience to finish this big project with our May 2008 Home Season concert and CD release party, with our commissioned composer—Chinary Ung—in attendance. The San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s intimate Recital Hall, in their new building at Civic Center, was a perfect venue for the concert. Our new CDs (received hot off the press just days before the concert) were available to purchase at the party afterwards. In honor of Chinary we served delicious Cambodian food from Angkor Borei Restaurant as we mingled with the audience. And, of course, we could not have done all of this without your support--our audience, donors, board members and volunteers--and your continuing interest in hearing new music written now by composers still living and breathing! Thank you!

4. Memories of Leakey Event

On May 30 Del Sol performed at the Jewish Community Center of SF for The Leakey Foundation, in collaboration with The California Academy of Sciences. The event featured a fascinating lecture, “The Musical Instinct,” by cognitive archaeologist, Dr. Steven Mithen (University of Reading, UK). He made a compelling case for the evolutionary value of music and why humans evolved as a musical species. The Quartet enlivened the lecture and demonstrated his points by playing various short pieces, from Bach to Blitzstein and other music from Del Sol’s contemporary repertoire.

left to right: Hannah Addario-Berry, Charlton Lee, Dr. Steven Mithen, Kate Stenberg and Rick Shinozaki
photo by Jane Kumin

5. Spring Fundraising Drive

Individual contributions to the Del Sol Performing Arts Organization made up 20% of our total revenues last year and are critical to our continuing operations as a nonprofit organization. It’s never too late or too little to donate—we greatly appreciate support at whatever level. Gifts from donors like you enable the DSPAO to continue bringing new chamber music to the Bay Area by funding composer commissions and expanding our educational outreach programs like QuartetFest (see above). Please return your tax-deductible contributions as soon as possible. For more information, or if you prefer to donate online, please visit our website and click on the link to a secure site for credit card contributions. We are extremely grateful for your support!