They have won prizes and awards and performed all over the world – and for royalty and the Pope – but their next concert will be right here in Macarthur.
The Orava String Quartet will perform works by Shostakovich and Dvorak at a one off special concert on Friday, May 29 in the Mater Dei chapel.
Since being formed in 2007, Orava have performed for Queen Sofia of Spain and Pope Benedict XVI.
The talented quartet have also performed in the United States, Canada, China, Philippines, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.
They regularly perform at festivals such as Musica Viva Festival, The Sydney Vivid Festival, Bellingen, Crossroads and Chinese Gardens Music Festival.
Orava recently won the Musica Viva Australia Tony Berg Award for the most outstanding Australian ensemble as well as the Peter Druce Audience Prize at the 2013 Asia Pacific Chamber Music competition in Melbourne.
Founded in 2007, The Orava String Quartet consists of brothers Daniel Kowalik (violin), Karol Kowalik (cello), and David Dalseno (violin) and Thomas Chawner (viola).
The father of the two Kowalik brothers is George, the Polish born violist and violinist who is passing on his skills to many Macarthur youngsters who aspire to a career in classical music.
Mr Kowalik not only teaches violin in his studio and at St Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Campbelltown, he is also the director of a brilliant orchestra – L’Estro Armonico – he has developed from the ranks of his students.
His active role in classical music is one of the reasons the Orava String Quartet will again perform here in Macarthur in a concert not to be missed.
Praised by the Sydney Morning Herald for their warmth of sound, sublime inner-voicing and spontaneity, The Orava String Quartet is one of Australia’s most exciting chamber music ensembles.
In 2014 Orava completed their two year graduate quartet-in-residence at the University of Colorado, USA, where they worked closely with the world renowned Takács string quartet.
In addition to their studies in America, the Orava Quartet has held residencies at the Banff Arts Centre in Canada and the Bundanon Artist in Residence complex in Australia.
They have also studied with members of the Emerson, St Lawrence, Schoenberg, Jerusalem, Australian, Brentano, Juilliard and Goldner String Quartets.
In Sydney, Orava is mentored by prominent musical educators Uzi Wiesel, Ole Böhn and Janet Davies.
WHAT: Orava String Quartet concert
WHEN: Friday, May 29 7PM – 9PM
WHERE: Mater Dei Chapel, 229 Macquarie Grove Road, Camden
BOX OFFICE: Tickets available at the door, Adult $20, Concession $15, Children under 12 $5. To book online visit http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=134123
