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The Empyrean Quartet at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
LANGLEY, WA (June 13, 2019)
- Whidbey Island Center for the Arts is pleased to announce Whidbey Island musicians,
Empyrean Quartet
,
playing classical music on the
Michael Nutt Mainstage on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 7:30 PM.
The Empyrean Quartet are brothers Avrey and Dustin Scharwat, playing violin; Owen Boram playing viola; and Jasmin Graner is on cello.
Sunday’s concert includes Mozart and arrangements from Scott Joplin, the Beatles, and Chicago.
These homegrown musicians honed their talent in the Whidbey Island Orchestra under the direction of conductor Cynthia Morrow and local cellist and arranger James Hinkley. This concert is the culmination of focused work and connection as three of the musicians, Avrey, Dustin and Owen, leave for university in September.
The band members chose the name Empyrean, which means "the top of the Heaven," but each member of the Empyrean Quartet was nurtured by South Whidbey organizations and many talented residents.
BIOGRAPHIES
Avrey Scharwat
is a dedicated violinist. He has played in the Whidbey Youth Orchestra, the Saratoga Orchestra, and is currently the Assistant Concertmaster with the Whidbey Island Orchestra. He finds playing in a quartet musically rewarding. Avrey enjoys serving his community by bringing free music to Senior Care facilities and to a variety of community fundraising events. He has received numerous awards for his violin playing and has performed with D n’ A Violinists at weddings, parties, funerals and other events to raise money for college. On numerous occasions he has been the featured soloist with the Whidbey Island Orchestra, with his last performance being the challenging Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. In addition to his musical skills, he is an Eagle Scout and studies computer programming. He will be attending Western Washington University, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Music.
Violinist
Dustin Scharwat
particularly enjoys performing the works of Haydn, Corelli and Bach. After the classics, his next favorite music to perform is that of
the Beatles
. He studied piano and violin with world renowned violinist, violist and conductor Dr. Cynthia Morrow. Dustin has played with the Whidbey Island Orchestra for the last 6 years and has been a featured soloist three times. His most recent performance was the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35 Canzonetta. He finds the comradery of playing in a quartet especially rewarding. He enjoys being involved in his community in a meaningful way, and as part of his commitment to community service, donates his time to play for community fundraisers and at senior care facilities on a regular basis. He has performed at weddings, parties, and other social events as a member of D n’ A Violinists. Dustin’s other activities include having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and the rank of Black Belt in Uechi Ryu Karate. Dustin’s future plans include earning a degree in Music and Violin Performance.
Owen Boram
has been a member of the Whidbey Island Orchestra since 2015, playing both violin and viola. As part of the orchestra, he has played a variety of challenging pieces from numerous genres, including performing a solo of the Telemann Viola Concerto. He enjoys the opportunity to play a diverse range of music with the quartet and sees music as a way to appreciate different cultures. Owen spends his time participating in research, sports, academic clubs, and volunteering in the community. He will be attending the University of Washington in the fall where he plans to study Oceanography and Environmental Policy.
Jasmin Graner
has studied cello under James Hinkley since 2012. She has been a member of Whidbey Island Orchestras since 2015, receiving the Whidbey Island Orchestras Ted Braun Memorial Scholarship Award in 2016. She enjoys playing music with the Orchestra and the Empyrean Quartet, finding the experiences not only musically rewarding but also beneficial to her character. She equally enjoys sight-reading music with her Oma in Germany and swimming with her dog in Puget Sound. Jasmin is an alumnus to Whidbey Island Waldorf School where she developed a love for creative writing, poetry, and painting. She also has a passion for Science, Art, Math, and Literature, making her an ambitious student. Jasmin participates in Poetry Out Loud, recently winning the school competition after having narrated the Sealife Productions documentary “Discover the Olympic Coast”.
EVENT DETAILS
WICA MUSIC: EMPYREAN QUARTET
Classical music
Dates and Times
Sunday, June 30, 2019 | 7:30 PM
Tickets
All seats $24.00
Order tickets by phone or online
Venue
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
565 Camano Avenue Langley, WA, 98260
Additional Info
For press materials, please contact
Jeanne Juneau
, WICA Marketing Director, 360.221.8262.
