Concerts:
February 5th, 6:15pm
Hood River Hotel
Hood River, OR

February 6th
Instrument Petting Zoo 1:00pm
Master Class 2:15pm
Concert 7:30pm
Riverside Church
Hood River, OR

February 7th
Concert 4:00pm
Instrument Petting Zoo following conert
St. Peter's Landmark
The Dalles, OR

School Visits:
February 1st, 8:15 - 1:55pm
Chenowith Elementary School, The Dalles, OR

February 2nd, 8:15 - 1:55pm
Chenowith Elementary School, The Dalles, OR

February 3rd, 11:30 - 1:30pm
Mosier Community School
Mosier, OR

February 4, 12:00 - 2:00pm
Mosier Community School
Mosier, OR

February 5th, 10:00 - 3:00pm
Klickitat School
Klickitat, WA

February 8th, 8:00 - 2:00pm
Mid Valley Elementary
Parkdale, OR

February 9th, 8:30 - 12:30pm
Whitson Elementary
White Salmon, WA

February 9th, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Henkle Middle School
White Salmon, WA

February 10th, Time TBD
Mid Valley Elementary
Parkdale, OR

February 11th, 8:30 - 3:00pm
Whitson Elementary / Columbia High School
White Salmon, WA

February 12th, 8:30 - 3:00pm
May Street Elementary
Hood River, OR

For the second time in three months, Columbia Gorge Arts in Education is delighted to bring the Vinca Quartet, an award-winning string quartet to the Columbia Gorge for two weeks of in-school residencies, workshops and community concerts. Vinca's visit is part of the larger Gorgeous Sounds program, which works to enhance the culture of classical music in the Gorge. Building on existing music instruction (both public and private), Gorgeous Sounds strives to provide classroom instruction, all-school assemblies, teacher trainings and community concerts--all with the goal of increasing participation and appreciation of classical music in communities from The Dalles to White Salmon.

The Vincas are a dynamic young stringed quartet whose work has been hailed as "stunning" and "worth keeping an eye on" by the New York Times. Winners of the 2008 International Chamber Music Concert, the quartet has performed in major concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Yale University, and the Weikersheim Castle in Germany. The Vincas have a strong educational outreach program which fulfills their mission of spreading the power and beauty of classical music to new audiences. They will visit the Gorge three times this year, for over five weeks of residencies and community concerts.

The Quartet will visit schools throughout the Columbia Gorge, working directly with 3-8th grade classes on interpreting and performing classical music. They will emphasize the communicative aspect of music, as well leadership development through performance.

The Gorgeous Sounds program has been generously underwritten by philanthropist Louis Lerman, local PTOs, the White Salmon Valley Education Foundation (for White Salmon schools), the Oregon Arts Commission, the Templeton Foundation and individual donors. For more information, please contact Leigh Hancock at 509-493-3031 or leighbengt@gorge.net.