The South Suburbs debuted the new arts organization and in a concert in Flossmoor last Sunday. The highly valued Chicago ensemble The Avalon String Quartet performed at the concert.
The Avalon String Quartet is the leading Chamber Ensemble. They have been touring across the U.S and abroad since 1995. The Chicago Tribune describes them as, “an ensemble that invites your ears, mind and spirit – into its music.”

Blaise Magniere, violin; Marie Wong, violin; Anthony Devroye, viola; and Cheng-Hou Lee, cello make up the quartet. With only four members representing the group, the Avalon String Quartet continues astonishing audiences with their performances.
Dr. Charles Amenta is a Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Board Member and a Flossmoor resident. He is also the founder of the Amade Chamber Camerata, an organization dedicated to bringing fine chamber music to the Chicago Southland.

“The ACC is an organization that I am just getting off the ground. If this concert was not the success that it was, then I wouldn’t even incorporate it as a non profit.” Charles Amenta said. “Maybe people that came to this concert will want to join the ACC and help bring great chamber music to the Southland.”
Avalon String Quartet performed four pieces all representing the American themed program of the concert. The program consisted of a very diverse group of composers.
The only non-American composer on the program is Antonin Dvorak, who is Czech. He wrote his “American” string Quartet in Iowa, he was influenced by the music that he heard while visiting the United States.
Two other works written by African American composers were performed using popular melodies developed in original ways. One of the pieces were written by George Walker in memory of his late father.

The first violinist of the Avalon String Quartet, Blaise Magniere, is excited to perform for the debut of the new art organization starting up in the south suburbs.
“The most exciting aspect of performing for me is when you feel that you are achieving real communication with the audience. Ideally, it feels as though the listening from the audience is also a part of the performance.” Magniere said.
The quartet originated in 1996 and have been together since they were in college. They ended up auditioning for a music festival together and the rest was history.
They have performed in major venues like Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd St Y, Merkin Hall, and Bargemusic in New York. Although the Quartet has high credentials they never forget to support their home city of Chicago.

“I first heard them Downtown, Chicago when they were playing in their own series. It was a concert with all of their songs; it was amazing.” A friend of the quartet, Carole Brejena , said.
When performing the ensemble tries to engage the audience as much as possible by using dialogue from different scenarios and incorporating it into the performance.They consistently bring joy to their fans and communities that appreciate great music.
“I hope that the audience can come out of our concerts and feel that the composers have spoken to them directly. As interpreters we are simply the voice of the composers, and we are hoping to bring out their true intentions through our playing.” Magniere said.