Ralph Farris News

Grammy-winner and world-renowned pianist/composer/arranger Laurence Hobgood will release his new album  t e s s e t e r r a  on April 26th, 2019. 

Bang on a Can and the Jewish Museum's 2018-2019 concert season, pairing innovative music with the Museum's exhibitions and showcasing leading female performers and composers, continues on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 7:30pm. The acclaimed string quartet ETHEL performs the complete string quartets of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe: Dig Deep, Early that Summer, Four Marys, and Blue Dress. This is the first performance of all of Wolfe's string quartets at one time, on one stage.  

Bang on a Can and the Jewish Museum's 2018-2019 concert season, pairing innovative music with the Museum's exhibitions and showcasing leading female performers and composers, continues on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 7:30pm. The acclaimed string quartet ETHEL performs the complete string quartets of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe: Dig Deep, Early that Summer, Four Marys, and Blue Dress. This is the first performance of all of Wolfe's string quartets at one time, on one stage.

ETHEL is comprised of Ralph Farris (viola), Kip Jones (violin), Dorothy Lawson (cello) and Corin Lee (violin) but when they come together their strings of a feather breathe as one. Perhaps two decades together has birthed such camaraderie, consistency and maturity with a good dash of daring and rebellious nature present in any typical twenty year old. Their sense of playfulness (with each other and the audience) is alive and well, but only becomes profound when teamed with their remarkable discipline and skill. Much like the circus artists -- they merely make it look easy when it is anything but.

String quartet ETHEL, known for its enlivened playing and consistently groundbreaking redefinition of concert music, announces their landmark 20th anniversary season. Described as “an adventurous quartet with a rock band's zest” by The New York Times and deemed “a genre unto itself” by the Village Voice, ETHEL continues to set the standard for contemporary concert music. Celebrations begin with a June 20th benefit gala hosted by New Sound's John Schaefer, honoring ETHEL as well as fellow new music champions: Bang on a Can founders Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe. ETHEL's 2018-19 season offers the New York premiere of Circus: Wandering City at the 2018 BAM Next Wave Festival, along with continued touring of the group's signature works: The River and Documerica. (Please scroll below for more details and complete 2018-19 schedule of events.)

String quartet ETHEL, known for its enlivened playing and consistently groundbreaking redefinition of concert music, announces their landmark 20th anniversary season. Described as "an adventurous quartet with a rock band's zest" by The New York Times and deemed "a genre unto itself" by the Village Voice, ETHEL continues to set the standard for contemporary concert music. Celebrations begin with a June 20th benefit gala hosted by New Sound's John Schaefer, honoring ETHEL as well as fellow new music champions: Bang on a Can founders Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe. ETHEL's 2018-19 season offers the New York premiere of Circus: Wandering City at the 2018 BAM Next Wave Festival, along with continued touring of the group's signature works: The River and Documerica. (Please scroll below for more details and complete 2018-19 schedule of events.)

Molissa Fenley and Company, in collaboration with percussionist Frank Cassara and violist Ralph Farris, will present an evening of dance and live music, with scores by four contemporary composers. The program features four dances from Fenley's Water Table, three of which are New York premieres. The program also includes a new configuration of Fenley's 1979 work Mix. Performances are June 21–23 (Thursday–Saturday) at 8pm, at Danspace Project, 131 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10003.

On Today, January 13, 2018, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor Tarell Alvin McCraney - Academy Award-winning playwright, 1999 YoungArts Winner in Theater and YoungArts master teacher - with the 2018 Arison Alumni Award at the organization's annual Backyard Ball on the YoungArts Campus (2100 Biscayne Boulevard).

String Quartet ETHEL, known for their enlivened playing and consistently groundbreaking redefinition of concert music, announces their upcoming Winter/Spring 2018 season. Described as an adventurous quartet with a rock band's zest by the New York Times and deemed a genre unto itself by the Village Voice, ETHEL's new season offers the world premiere of Circus: Wandering Cityin Sarasota, Florida.

Circus: Wandering City, created by ETHEL in partnership with The John and Mable Ringling Museum and directed by Grant McDonald, is a full-evening, multi-media performance program inspired by the heroes behind the magic of the Big Top. Performed seamlessly, the work combines stunning images and films from the Ringling's unmatched archives, complex projection design, and original music composed by members of the quartet.

On Saturday, January 13, 2018, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor Tarell Alvin McCraney - Academy Award-winning playwright, 1999 YoungArts Winner in Theater and YoungArts master teacher - with the 2018 Arison Alumni Award at the organization's annual Backyard Ball on the YoungArts Campus (2100 Biscayne Boulevard).

The 2017 18 MetLiveArts Artist in Residence, the boldly inventive choreographer and artistic director Andrea Miller of Gallim, will premiere Stone Skipping at The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing on October 28 and 29.

ETHEL, the renowned New York City-based string quartet, has announced Circus - Wandering City, an evening-length multimedia performance that explores the phenomenon of circus through the eyes and insights of people who have created its special thrills and illusions. Circus - Wandering City makes its world premiere in January 2018-the 250th anniversary of the modern circus-at The Ringling, a distinct non-profit entity that celebrates the history and the continuing evolution of this thriving art form.

ETHEL, the musically omnivorous string quartet The New York Times has described as "indefatigable and eclectic" and The Village Voice called "a genre unto itself," announces its upcoming winter/spring 2017 season, building on the group's artistry and collaborative vision.

Dominican University's Performing Arts Center presents ETHEL's Documerica tonight, February 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the Lund Auditorium.

Dominican University's Performing Arts Center presents ETHEL's Documerica on Saturday, February 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the Lund Auditorium.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts continues its Composer Portraits series with MISSY MAZZOLI featuring ETHEL, Mivos Quartet, Marnie Breckenridge, soprano, Jody Redhage, cello & voice, Nathan Schram, viola, and Robert Simonds, violin. Tonight, February 5, 2015, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street). Tickets: $20-$30 • Students with valid ID: $12-$18

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts continues its Composer Portraits series with MISSY MAZZOLI featuring ETHEL, Mivos Quartet, Marnie Breckenridge, soprano, Jody Redhage, cello & voice, Nathan Schram, viola, and Robert Simonds, violin. On Thursday, February 5, 2015, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street). Tickets: $20-$30 • Students with valid ID: $12-$18

ETHEL, America's Groundbreaking Indie-Classical String Quartet, Announces Winter/Spring 2015 Season.

GRANVILLE, Ohio—Denison University announces the launch of its first Ensemble-in-Residence program, a collaboration between the Department of Music and the Vail Series. The Ensemble-in-Residence program will engage the entire campus and the greater community in an exploration of music and other academic disciplines. The program will host the renowned string quartet ETHEL for the 2014-2015 academic year.