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Lee Receives Grants for String Theory

News

Lee University recently received grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) and South Arts (SA) to support String Theory, its collaborative arts project with the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tenn.

South Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, awarded Lee with a Regional Touring Grant, and the TAC matched this funding in their Performing Arts Touring Grant. These agencies encourage performing, visual, and literary arts to nurture a richer cultural life in the region.

String Theory at the Hunter is a series bringing the highest quality chamber music to the area and presenting it in an intimate, artistically inspiring setting. The project was launched in 2009 by internationally acclaimed pianist and Lee University faculty member Gloria Chien.

The funding will enable Lee and the Hunter to bring the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) to String Theory for a public performance on Oct. 13, 2011. CMS is regarded as the nation’s premiere repertory company for chamber music. Artistic Director Wu Han returns with three talented young musicians for this concert.

For this project, Han (piano), Yura Lee (violin), Richard O’Neill (viola), and Jacob Koranyi (cello) will perform the CMS On Tour “Four by Four” program featuring the Haydn Piano Trio in A major, Francaix’s String Trio, and Dvorak’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major.

Chien said, “I am very honored that String Theory has been awarded these two grants for two years in a row. It’s a privilege to be able to bring these incredible artists to Chattanooga.”

During their stay, CMS will offer a free lecture and demonstration for 75-100 senior citizens in coordination with the Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors (SN) and the Senior Arts Council of Chattanooga (SAC). The event will be held at a downtown Alexian senior center, and transportation will be arranged to bring seniors from other residential facilities to the event.

For the String Theory concert, tickets will be available to seniors through the SAC, and Lee will provide transportation and student hosts for these seniors to the Hunter for a museum tour and the evening concert.

According to Colleen Combs, Executive Director at Alexian Brothers, “Through the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s scheduled lecture and concert at Senior Neighbors, Chattanooga seniors will have the opportunity to learn about and enjoy ageless and timeless music. We look forward to the October event with anticipation and excitement.”

Along with the TAC and SA funding, String Theory also recently received a grant from the William L. Montague Jr. Performing Arts Fund.

For more information about String Theory, visit www.huntermuseum.org/learn/string-theory/

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