WEST, Texas — A New York-based quartet is making its rounds through West Texas this week. Cassatt String Quartet comes to the Basin bi-annually with the hopes of inspiring and educating the community through chamber music.
One of the violinists is actually from West Texas and graduated from Permian High School. Wednesday, the group performed for music students at Midland College.
But it was not just a performance. It was what the quartet calls an informace, an informative performance.
“I grew up in Odessa and I’m aware that it’s an isolated geographic area,"
Jennifer Leshnower, violinist of the Cassatt String Quartet, said. "I wanted to be able to share my quartet members and the many talents with the young students in community.”
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The Cassatt string quartet is not just making music, it is making a difference.
That is why Lesbnowher has made sure the group, who routinely play internationally, pay a visit to her hometown twice a year.
The string quartet was formed in 1985 in New York at the Juilliard School of Music.
For many students, it is their first time ever hearing chamber music.
The selection Wednesday included pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer from the 1800s who is best-known works include a Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“I did not have the opportunity when I was growing up in junior high or high school to have exposure to chamber music," Leshnower said. "Chamber music is different than orchestra, one person plays their part and there’s no conductor."
Leshnower says it requires the individual to take ownership and know their part.
"You have to communicate verbally and nonverbally, you have to have teamwork, you have to have diplomacy," Leshnower said. "It has many many skills that are valuable in life.”
For Leshnower, seeing students' reactions to playing music is the biggest reward.
“It's very heartwarming and very satisfying to be able to get back and to nurture the next generation,” Leshnower said.
The quartet has a few more performances to go before packing up and heading back to the Big Apple. This afternoon they’ll be performing at Polo Parks Estates in midland at 4:15 p.m.
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