Relax and experience the stunning acoustics of the Sanford Performing Arts Center with a classical performance by Maine’s premier string ensemble, DaPonte String Quartet, at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21.
The four musicians of the DaPonte String Quartet embody the contemporary version of a classical string quartet. They have achieved a balance of technique and passion that makes performances magic. The Quartet’s standard repertoire is extensive, from the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, to Debussy, Bartok, and Shostakovich.
Not long after forming in Philadelphia in 1991, the DaPonte String Quartet surprised the musical world by moving from a cosmopolitan urban area to rural Maine in 1995. The DSQ had been – and continues to be –sought after to perform and teach all over the USA and around the world.
They have appeared in France, Scotland, Canada, and more than 20 American states. Their performances have been broadcast over nation-wideradio and television programs in both the USA and Canada.
They have received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Philadelphia Musical Fund Society, the Music Teachers National Association, Chamber Music America, and have participated in several of the nation’s most prestigious concert series to rave reviews. Musicians
and critics alike wondered, why would the DSQ move to Maine, where, as the New York Times noted, they create an experience “like watching the Celtics play in the local gym.”
The DaPonte musicians include Kirsten Monke, violist; Ferdinand “Dino” Liva, violin; Lydia Forbes, violin; and Myles Jordan, cello. They were proud to call Maine home, and their relationship with mid-coast Maine remains a deeply rooted one. When CBS Sunday Morning nationally televised a profile of the group, the idea of living outside a major urban center suddenly appeared to be an appealing alternative lifestyle few musicians had considered.
Few string quartets can boast such a devoted following. The people of Maine warmly embraced the DSQ, which has become an integral part of the state’s musical life. When the Quartet debuted at Carnegie Hall, a large contingent of their fans traveled to New York to hear and cheer them
there. The Times wrote in amazement: “Let it not be said that the DaPonte String Quartet enters New York musical life without friends. Weill Hall was packed!”
Tickets are $18-$20 for students and seniors and $20-$22 for adults in
advance via https://sanfordpac.org/shrek/ or available at the door.