Violinist François Henkins, a native of South Africa who studied at Western Michigan University, has maintained his ties to the school and his former mentor, professor Renata Knific. Since forming the Kontras Quartet in 2009, the group has broken out in new directions. Their collaboration with the neo-bluegrass trio Kruger Brothers resulted in a well-received album, Roan Mountain Suite, and they're now working on a collaboration with saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Saturday night in the Dalton Center Lecture Hall, the Kontras Quartet will perform bluegrass fiddler/composer Mark O'Connor's String Quartet No. 3 "Old-Time," and the String Quartet No. 1 in D by Tchaikovsky. Henkins previews the concert with Cara Lieurance.
http://www.kontrasquartet.com/artist.php?view=record&rid=3641
