In celebration of the holiday season the Newman Center for the Performing Arts will host the Turtle Island Quartet Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the June Swaner Gates Concert Hall.
The Solstice Celebration performance will feature holiday music from around the world including English carols, 16th century Scottish reels, Jewish songs of Hanukkah and songs in celebration of the Hindu holiday, Dewali.
The Turtle Island Quartet’s eclectic taste in music is reflected in its sound and its members’ cultural heritages, according to Stephen Seifert, executive director of the Newman Center.
“Turtle Island Quartet is a very entertaining classical/jazz/world crossover ensemble,” says Seifert.
Founded in 1985 by cello player Mark Summer, the Turtle Island Quartet derives its name from Native American creation mythology. David Balakrishnan and Mads Tolling on violin and Jeremy Kittel on viola complete the quartet.
In 2008, Turtle Island won its second Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover for its album A Love Supreme — The Music of John Coltrane. The first Grammy Award win came in 2006 for the album4 +Four with the Ying Quartet.
Before the performance, two members of the Turtle Island Quartet will give a free “Behind the Curtain” lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event, on sale now, are $52 for orchestra and parterre, $38 for mezzanine and $28 for balcony; ticket prices include parking.
Tickets can be purchased through Newman Center, Ritchie Center and Ticketmaster box offices. For more information, call the Newman Center at 303-871-7720.