Chamber Music America (CMA) has selected Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts to receive a Residency Partnership grant for its 2012-13 ARTech Residency with post-classical string quartet, Ethel. The ARTech residency program emphasizes a particular exploration of the arts and science or technology that has a unique connection with Georgia Tech.

Fifteen CMA member organizations, including music conservatories, festivals and arts presenting organizations, will receive the 2012 Residency Partnership Program grants totaling $122,000. The Ferst Center received full funding at the maximum amount allowed by CMA’s Residency Partnership grant guidelines. The program supports arts organizations in building audiences for classical/contemporary, jazz and world chamber music through residency projects. Funding is specifically aimed at activities that take place in community settings and that are not part of a regular concert series.

The $10,000 grant award to the Ferst Center provides support for string quartet Ethel’s “Stages of Influence” ARTech Residency. Ethel will collaborate with Georgia Tech College of Architecture students to select a non-traditional performance space on the campus to serve as a stage for multiple performance installations. The space will be explored for its acoustical and architectural nature through sound and music by Ethel and through movement by choreographer Seán Curran.

“We are especially honored to be the only university awarded this prestigious grant this year,” says Georgia Tech’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. William D. Schafer. “The funding provides the Ferst Center with an invaluable opportunity to build upon the success of the ARTech Residency program, make innovative academic connections between art and technology and introduce high caliber professional performing artists to the student body.” The residency is closely aligned with the Institute's Strategic Plan Initiative that connects the Georgia Tech community to the world of arts and expression.

Over the course of two week-long campus visits, Ethel will hold classroom lectures with Georgia Tech architecture students, perform a free outdoor concert, participate in K-12 educational outreach sessions with Ferst Center partner schools Centennial Place Elementary and Drew Charter School, participate in an ARTech panel discussion on the challenges and outcomes of the project and perform a culminating public concert as part of the residency. The residency has the following goals:

• Introduce a new music group to the Ferst Center’s concert audience through multiple interactions exploring music, sound and space;
• Further integrate the arts into a technology-driven campus through artistically innovative campus performances and interactions; and
• Introduce K-12 students to chamber music in both traditional and non-traditional forms.

About Ethel

Acclaimed as America’s premier post-classical string quartet, Ethel invigorates contemporary concert music with refreshing exuberance and exceptional artistry. Formed in 1998, New York’s ebullient Ethel is comprised of Juilliard-trained performers Cornelius Dufallo (violin), Dorothy Lawson (cello), Jennifer Choi (violin) and Ralph Farris (viola). Ethel currently serves as Artists-in-Residence at New York City’s Park Avenue Armory, the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Grand Canyon Music Festival as part of the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project and the official house band of TEDxManhattan and TEDxBig Apple conferences. The group is currently celebrating the release of its third album, Heavy (Innova Recordings) – a sonic snapshot of the group’s life in New York City.

About Chamber Music America
Chamber Music America is the national service organization for ensemble music professionals. CMA members are thousands of individual musicians, ensembles, presenters, artist managers, composers, educators and others in the national chamber music community.CMA serves the national ensemble music community by providing access to an array of professional resources and benefits, professional development seminars, grants and awards and—through its  National Conference and interactive website—opportunities to connect with musicians, presenters, managers and other chamber music professionals across the country.

Keep up with the ARTech residency all year long online at www.ferstcenter.org and at www.facebook.com/ferstcenter.

Located on the Georgia Tech campus in midtown Atlanta
349 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0468
Ferst Center Box Office 404-894-9600
www.ferstcenter.org

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About the Ferst Center for the Arts

The Ferst Center for the Arts is a part of the Georgia Institute of Technology and is located in the heart of the Georgia Tech campus. Named after Georgia Tech alumnus Robert Ferst, the mission of the Ferst Center is to enhance the education of Tech students and to serve as a bridge to the greater Atlanta community by offering a showcase of some of the most highly-acclaimed talent from around the world. Funding is provided in part by contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly, and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. Major corporate support is provided by the Coca-Cola Company and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For ticket information call 404-894-9600 or visit www.ferstcenter.org.