Meet the Ariel Quartet: Sasha Kazovsky, Jan Gruning, Amit Even-Tov and Gershon Gerchikov; The Ariel Quartet performs Sunday, April 19th at 3:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House

Fun Facts about the Ariel Quartet:

• The Ariel Quartet formed in Jerusalem in 1998 as part of a chamber music class at the Jerusalem Academy Middle School for Music and Dance. “We used to study for school exams together, but since math didn’t go so well we decided to stick to music…”

• In 2003, the Quartet wins first prize in the “Franz Schubert and Modern Music” competition in Graz, Austria. “Since we were very young and didn’t expect to win anything, we arrived to the official winner’s announcement ceremony practically in pajamas!”

• That summer, the Quartet is invited to be part of the first Perlman Music Program chamber music workshop. “The Shelter Island, NY, campus of The Perlman Music Program has quickly evolved into a second home for the Quartet, in which we’ve spent time in every of the past twelve summers.”

• In 2005, the Quartet, still teenagers, arrives in Florida to participate in the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency, the first of many visits. That winter, they performed a late Beethoven Quartet live on WUSF radio.

• In 2011, the Quartet begins serving as teaching and performing artists in Sarasota and Manatee County schools as part of the PMP/Suncoast Education Outreach Program. In only three seasons, the Quartet visits more than 50 local schools!

• In 2013-2014, the Quartet performs The Beethoven Cycle: Complete String Quartets in Selby Auditorium on USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Members of the quartet were not yet 30 years old!

The Ariel Quartet performs Sunday, April 19th at 3:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House. Tickets ($30, $40) are available now by calling the Sarasota Opera House Box Office at 941-366-8450 or by clicking below.

Learn more about the April 19th concert.