Kontras Quartet Returns to Jewel Box Series on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 PM

Chicago, IL, January 15, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Northeastern Illinois University brings the critically acclaimed Kontras Quartet back to its popular Jewel Box Series for a concert featuring the music of Rejean Collier, Schumann, Haydn, and Shostakovich. The Kontras Quartet performs with NEIU faculty artists Susan Tang, piano, and Robert Heitzinger, baritone. Tickets are $25 or $17.50 and can be purchased at the door or online in advance:  http://www.neiu.edu/university-life/arts-northeastern/jewel-box-series.

The "superb Chicago-based ensemble" (Gramophone Magazine) has been praised for its "crisp precision" (Palm Beach Daily News), "enjoyable musical personality" (Fanfare Magazine) and "superlative artistry" (CVNC Arts Journal). The Kontras Quartet has established an international following for their compelling performances and colorful repertoire that spans centuries, genres, and continents. Kontras recently released two critically acclaimed albums: Origins, for the MSR Classics label; and Lucid Dreamer, a commissioned work that treads the line between classical music and American folk and invigorates Kontras' ongoing collaboration with the esteemed Kruger Brothers trio. Kontras' performances have been heard on Performance Today, NPR's Concierto, PBS, TED, and the David Letterman Show, and they have recently performed to sold-out crowds at the Utah Arts Festival, Merlefest, the Farnsworth House, and Thalian Hall in NC. Kontras is currently in residence at Western Michigan University and Elmhurst College.

"full of life and energy and stunningly beautiful"

CVNC Arts Journal

NEIU's Steinberg Fine Arts Center is located at 5500 North St. Louis Ave. The hall is wheelchair accessible, and free parking is available in parking lot F or levels 4 and 5 of the parking garage. Visit www.kontrasquartet.com for more information.