“How wonderful to hear four young musicians be such good ambassadors for music,” says world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma in reference to La Catrina String Quartet, who are performing at Berea College on February 17 at 8 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Auditorium. The event is part of 2010-11 Stephenson Memorial Concert Series that is free and open to the public.

La Catrina String Quartet

The highly sought after quartet blends Latin-American and standard repertoire to entertain diverse audiences, catering to the more traditional concertgoers while still attracting the next generation of listeners. The La Catrina Quartet performs the masterworks of the string quartet repertoire, promotes Mexican and Latin American art music worldwide and works closely with composers to promote the performance of new music.

La Catrina Quartet tours regularly throughout the U.S. and Mexico. The group has received Western Michigan University’s All University Research and Creative Scholar Award, the Bascom Little Fund Grant and the North Carolina Arts Council cARTwheels 2009 and 2010 touring program.

The La Catrina Quartet was in residence at the Chamber Music Festival of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where they collaborated with the Brentano Quartet, the Poulenc Trio and The Miami Quartet. For two years, they were the Quartet-in-Residence of the Western Piedmont Symphony in North Carolina.

Other upcoming convocations include:

• February 23 and 25: Assistant Professor of Theatre Adanma Onyedike directs the play "The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World" at 8 p.m. in Jelkyl Drama Center
• February 24: Dr. Rick Kittles presents "The Role of Diverse Populations in Personalized Genetic Medicine" at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Auditorium
• March 3: Carol M. Browner “The Courage Not To Look Away: Protecting Where and How We Live” at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Auditorium.

For a complete listing of all Berea College convocations in 2011 visit www.berea.edu/convocations. View the online calendar at addthis_pub = 'YOUR-ACCOUNT-ID';