1:24 p.m., July 13, 2010----The University of Delaware has appointed the Serafin String Quartet as “quartet in residence” beginning this fall semester, with plans for the musicians to work closely with students in addition to performing on campus and reaching out to the community.

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“We're very excited about this,” said Lawrence Stomberg, associate professor in the Department of Music and the quartet's cellist. “The University has had string quartets on campus before, but they were mostly performers because we didn't really have many string students. But now that the string and orchestral programs have grown, this is our opportunity to have a student-centered residency.”

Plans call for the quartet members to spend at least one day a week on campus, serving as coaches for students in various chamber groups and with sectional groups in the University of Delaware Symphony. They also will work with some other music classes -- in contemporary music or music history, for example -- as well as with students in other departments.

“We're looking forward to doing some collaborative activities outside the Department of Music,” Stomberg said. “And we'll be balancing all these activities with our own rehearsals and performances. It gives us a home base, too, which is always exciting for an ensemble.”

Stomberg is the only member of the Serafin quartet who is a UD faculty member, although violinist Kate Ransom will be filling in temporarily during the semester for Prof. Xiang Gao, who is on sabbatical. The other members are violinist Timothy Schwarz and violist Ana Tsinadze.

The Delaware-based quartet debuted in 2004 at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and has performed across the United States, including concerts at the University. It has won praise form the New York Concert Review for its “excellent music making [and] uncommonly fine interpretation.”

The Serafin recently released its first commercial CD, recorded in UD's Gore Recital Hall, now available from Centaur Records and scheduled for international release in September. The quartet also is preparing for its first overseas performance, in London on Sept. 25.

Article by Ann Manser