The group will present two fantastic string quartets: Joseph Haydn's String Quartet in C major, Opus 74, No 1; and Robert Schumann's String Quartet in A minor, Opus 41, No. 1. Dessert is served at 1:30 pm followed at 2:00 pm by a one-hour concert. Single tickets are available at the door for $7.

The Afternoon Delights series (formerly known as Matinee Musicale) is a calendar of classical music concerts offered through the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for citizens to enjoy top-quality professional music at an affordable price, midday time and convenient location. These non-denominational concerts are supported by the J.F. Ervin Foundation, Rosebud Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Education Director Rebecca Cheskidov says, "This concert promises to be truly breathtaking. It offers some of the great chamber works for string quartet performed by some of the strongest players from the Ann Arbor Symphony and U of M."

Part of the Apponyi Quartets (dedicated to Count Anton Apponyi), Haydn's String Quartet in C major (Op. 74, No. 1) begins with two loud chords that grab the audience by their collective ears as if to say "Listen here." From there, the quartet develops a number of dance-like themes full of rhythmic interest.

Robert Schumann's String Quartet in Am (Op. 41, No. 1) is a romantic work in counterpoint and fugue following his detailed studies of the quartets of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. The Quartet opens with a bow to Bach and is characterized by the canons Schumann loved to write. The second movement has been described as "…one of the most exciting and successful movements of its kind in the quartet literature. It gallops along like a wild horseman." The third movement displays Schumann's gifts as a songwriter, and the fourth movement concludes the quartet with the vigor and spirit of the Romantic composers.

Born in Israel, Arie Lipsky received extensive training as a cellist and flutist. He won the first of many prestigious musical competitions at age nine as soloist and then began to appear in concerts throughout Israel and Europe. He studied composition and conducting and became principal cellist of the Buffalo Philharmonic in 1984 and 1990 he became Resident Conductor. He is now Music Director of the Ashland Symphony in Ohio as well as the A2SO. He records on the Fleur de Son Classics label as part of the New Arts Trio in residence at the Chautauqua Institute, where he serves as Director of Chamber Music.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Aaron Berofsky is a Professor of Violin at UM and the Meadowmount School of Music. He has performed with the acclaimed chamber orchestra Tafelmusik. He solos with orchestras around the world; according to France's Le Figaro, his is "the kind of music making that gives one true pleasure." He can be heard on the Sony, New Albion, Audio Ideas, ECM and Chesky labels.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Acting Associate Concertmaster, Kathryn Votapek has played with the A²SO since 2003, and she has taught at the University of Michigan. As a member of the Chester String Quartet since 1990, Votapek performed throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Canada, and Central America. Ms. Votapek also maintains an active career as soloist and as guest artist at chamber music festivals in the U.S. and Canada. She has served on the faculties of the Interlochen Arts Camp and the International Deia Festival (Spain), among others. She was Associate Professor of Violin at Indiana University South Bend. Ms. Votapek received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at Indiana University and the Juilliard School.

A prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus, Yehonatan Berick is in high demand internationally as soloist, recitalist, chamber musician (on violin as well as on viola) and pedagogue. He was co-artistic director of the revived Quebec Chamber Music Society. Touring as a chamber musician, he has been featured in the world's most important music centers. On CD, Berick has recorded for the Centaur, Summit, Gasparo, Acoma, JMC and Helicon labels. Previously teaching at McGill University and the Eastman School of Music, Berick is currently Professor of Violin at the School of Music at the University of Michigan. -- www.a2so.com