St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Westfield will launch its 2021-22 Steeple Concerts series with a performance by the prestigious Tesla String Quartet (TSQ). On Sunday, September 26 at 5:00 p.m., the concert-starved public is cordially invited to attend this first Steeple Concert of the season at the church, 414 East Broad Street, near Euclid Avenue, in Westfield. Parking at the church and surrounding area is free.
TSQ is praised for their “superb capacity to find the inner heart of everything they play, regardless of era, style, or technical demand” (The International Review of Music). Now, in their second decade, the Quartet performs regularly across North America, Europe, and has toured in Asia and Brazil. Recent highlights include their debut at New York’s Lincoln Center, a return to London’s Wigmore Hall, and performances at Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall as winners of the prestigious John Lad Prize.
The “technically superb” TSQ “brings refinement and prowess to both new and established repertoire” (The Strad). Formed at The Juilliard School (NYC) in 2008, the group quickly established itself as one of the most promising young ensembles in New York. In 2021, given their diverse repertoire (from Mozart to Bartok and beyond) and their numerous, impressive international awards, they continue to stand out as a truly exceptional chamber music group.
TSQ’s September 26 program includes works by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) (String Quartet No. 15 in G major) and Caroline Shaw (Plan & Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks). In 2013, Ms. Shaw (b. 1981) became the youngest recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her composition Partita for 8 Voices.
Priced at $25 (adults) and $10 (students), tickets for the September 26 TSQ concert can be purchased on the Steeple Concerts website: www.steepleconcerts.org.
Subscribers may also purchase 2021-22 season tickets on the website. Adult subscriptions to the full, five-concert season are priced at $100 (a savings of $35 off the individual ticket prices), with student subscriptions at $40.
During these unusual times, St. Paul’s will offer the 2021-22 Steeple Concert series in the safest possible way for both audience and musicians. Following State of NJ and Diocesan guidelines, each in-person concert will be limited to 60 minutes with no intermission. Per current guidelines, all concert goers must wear a mask while in the building and are asked to remain seated in their assigned pew during the concert.
These guidelines and concert programs are subject to revision. Concerts may be streamed online in lieu of in-person attendance, depending on updated NJ state guidelines.
