The Brandeis Office of the Arts has long sponsored highly acclaimed concerts of classical and world music. This year , however, a new concert series will bring performers in the widely varying American tradition to the Greater Boston area. In addition to the Lydian String Quartet's "Around the World in a String Quartet" series, student classical performances, the MusicUnitesUS World Music Concert Series, the Marquee Series will feature a collection of concerts drawing on a variety of musical traditions, such as blues, folk, world music and American standards.

Says Prof. Mary Ruth Ray (MUS), violist for the Lydian String Quartet, "This year's concerts explore a wide spectrum of contemporary music in addition to our classical, jazz, world music and new music offerings. We are delighted to present some of the finest professional musicians and vocalists from Greater Boston and beyond. It's our most diverse and ambitious concert season ever, exploring global connections between the music of the past and the present."

The first concert of the Marquee Series will feature Boston singers Nancy Armstrong and Robert Honeysucker, along with Lydian String Quartet violinist Daniel Stepner and Laura Jeppesen on electric viola da gamba.

On the Mexican holiday D?a de los Muertos, coming up in October, the Marquee Series will feature the Latin-Caribbean group Sol y Canto for "Noche de Muertos: Welcoming Our Ancestors Home."

The folk-rock singer-songwriter Erin McKeown will also perform as part of the Marquee Series. McKeown, who began her career in the folk music scene while still a student at Brown University, released an album earlier this year entitled Sing You Sinners. The album is mostly comprised of American jazz standards from the first half of the 20th century.

The Marquee Series will also feature a jazz performance by Boston favorites Bob Nieske and Big Wolf Trio, as well as a concert by the blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Chris Smither. Smither's music is inspired by such Mississippi Delta legends as Lightnin' Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt.

The Lydian String Quartet, comprised made up of Violinists Daniel Stepner and Judith Eissenberg,, violins and Violincellist (that's an instrument?) Joshua Gordon, violoncello in addition toand Prof. Ray, will continue their series "Around the World in a String Quartet." The quartet's series spanslast for a number of years, during which they explore a certain topic in depth. During this season, the quartet is studying classical compositions from composers all over the world. This year, the series will feature works by a European (in Haydn's Quartet in G Major, Op. 76 #1) but will also cover composers from such far-flung countries as Argentina, Ukraine, and China in Piazzola's "Four, For Tango," Leo Ornstein's Quartet #2, Op. 99, and Chen Yi's Fiddle Suite for Huqin and Quartet.

Student musicians will hold solo and ensemble classical recitals throughout the year, in addition to two solo recitals by Lydian String Quartet members. Gordon will hold a solo recital with pianist Randall Hodgkinson. The recital will be a French-inspired cello and piano performance. Stepner will also hold a solo recital with guest Sally Pinkas.

The MusicUnitesUS World Music Concert Series will continue this year with Ologunda, an Afro-Brazilian music and dance group who will perform traditional martial arts and ritual warrior dances. Then, in the spring, Students? Who are these people? Jiebing Chen and Yangqin Zhao will give a concert of classical Chinese music as well as contemporary works that take cues from a variety of cultures. Chen will play the erhu (the two-string vertical violin) and Zhao will play the yangqin, a type of hammered dulcimer. The MusicUnitesUS Series will also sponsor lectures, classes, and symposia on a variety of topics related to world music.



Editors note: All concerts are held in the Slosberg Recital hall. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students and seniors.