Abaca String Band March 4

By Diana Williams
The Abaca String Band is set to perform at WVUP March 4. The concert is part of the Distinguished Performance Series. The concert will be at 8 p.m. in the College Activities Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. The tickets may be purchased at the door, or special advance tickets for students are also available. The special advance tickets are $2 each and can be bought for students and one guest each in the business office.

The band was founded in 1991 by guitarist Andrew Shulman. It includes an eight-string guitar played by Shuman, violin by Robert Zubrycki, mandolin by Tamara Volskaya, the viola by Julie Goodale, and double bass played by Mark Schmied. Their music sound ranges from classical music such as Bach and Vivaldi to more modern works by Jerome Kern and Scott Joplin.They began playing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for membership events, which they continue to do today. The group has performed at many special events and occasions and famous places. They have appeared on the Carnegie Hall Neighborhood concert series, toured throughout the United States, and been presented in concert at places such as the The White House, the Library of Congress, and the Chautauqua Institution.

Their debut CD, Live From Chautauqua, came out in 1999 and was broadcast across the nation by Public Radio International. The followup album, Live From Chautauqua Vol. II, is soon to be released. They also have many more concerts and appearances scheduled for the remainder of 2006, including Carnegie Hall and Levitt Pavilion in Conneticut.

On Abaca’s website, you can learn more about the band and each individual member. It also offers press kits available for downloading and information about their education program. Visit abacaproductions.com for more information.