THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY AND LAGUNA BEACH LIVE! PRESENT
THE SIXTH ANNUAL LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL
WITH GRAMY AWARD WINNING TURTLE ISLAND STRING QUARTET
New Work Commissioned by the Festival to be Premiered
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Laguna Beach Live! present its sixth annual Laguna Beach Music Festival from Monday, January 14, 2008 through Sunday, January 20, 2008. Experience the acclaimed ensemble, The Turtle Island Quartet as the Featured Artist of the 2008 Festival, the award winning young professional group, The Ens? Quartet, and special guest artist, the highly praised percussionist Stefon Harris.¬† This world-class Festival, established in 2003, brings music at its most exciting—up close and personal—to the charming seaside community of Laguna Beach.
The Turtle Island String Quartet has been chosen as this year’s featured artist.  Since 1985, this San Francisco Bay Area based jazz quartet has been a singular force in the creation of bold, new trends in chamber music for strings.  The quartet’s unique fusion of classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles has resulted in its acclaimed musical versatility.  In the words of the Los Angeles Times, The Turtle Island String Quartet is “A Standard beyond the reach of its few contemporaries…In the multifarious idiom they have all but invented, Turtle remains the ne plus ultra.”
A new composition has been commissioned from Canadian-American composer Karim Al-Zand, recipient of several national awards, including the Sackler Composition Prize, the Art Song Prize, and the Louisville Orchestra Competition Prize.  The composition will be premiered on Sunday, January 20 by the Ens? String Quartet.  Full programs are to be announced.
Lauded for stellar and diverse qualities, among them “lyricism and sophistication” … the Ens? String Quartet received multiple honors at the 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition and claimed victories at the 2003 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Fischoff National Competition and Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.  
The Ens? String Quartet formed in 1999 at Yale University and completed graduate residencies at Northern Illinois University and at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Its members hold degrees from The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Guildhall School of Music (UK) and the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). 
Stefon Harris’ passionate artistry, energetic stage presence, and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him into the forefront of the current jazz scene. Widely recognized and lauded by both his peers and jazz critics alike, the 30 year-old is committed to both exploring the rich potential of jazz composition and blazing new trails on the vibraphone.
A graduate of The Manhattan School of Music, Harris received a B.A. in Classical Music and an M.A. in jazz performance. He is a recipient of the prestigious Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center and has earned back to back to back Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Album and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.
Dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation, the Festival presents traditional and contemporary classical music in an accessible and intimate style. The week features a special Meet the Artists salon with The Turtle Island Quartet, several educational events open to the public with The Turtle Island String Quartet and the commissioned composer, master classes, an opening night gourmet dinner at Claes Restaurant at the Hotel Laguna, and concludes with three inspired weekend concerts held at the Laguna Beach Artists’ Theatre on Friday, January 18, 8 pm, Saturday, January 19, 8 pm, and Sunday, January 20, 3 pm.
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