In Concert: Prize Winning String Quartet

Young, vibrant and powerful; the Afiara String Quartet vibrates with palpable energy.

Violinist Yuri Cho, cellist Adrian Fung, violist David Samuel and violinist Valerie Lee formed a powerhouse quartet in 2006. They named themselves Afiara, from the Spanish word fiar, meaning “to trust.”

Since then, they have won the Concert Artists International Guild Competition in 2008 and the Young Canadian Musicians Award in 2010.

This foursome also took the Szekely Prize for best Beethoven interpretation in the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and other awards from the Munich ARD International Music Competition.

Advocates of education, this quartet has assisted with teaching the Julliard String Quartet until 2011 and had previously assisted their mentors, The Alexander String Quartet in teaching duties for the San Francisco State University’s International Center for the Arts.

The Canadian quartet has played at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center, ProMusica in Mexico, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Alice Tully Hall and the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center and more.

Leave the dark and dreary cold of Hilo rain at the UHH Pacific Arts Center doors, and enter into a theater that brings the warmth of old world musical intimacy to light.

The lovely strains and refrains begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28.

Tickets cost $20 general, $16 for seniors and $10 for students. Call 808-974-7310 for more information.