/UCWE/ The Young Eight string octet will present two concerts in Austin, Texas – Tuesday, June 14, 2005 – 7 PM at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina Street and Friday, June 17, 2005 – 8 PM as part of the St. Cecilia Music Series at First Presbyterian Church of Austin, 8001 Mesa Drive, both in Austin, Texas. Repertoire for both concerts will be string octets by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Niels W. Gade. The June 14 concert will also include works by African-American composers John Littlejohn and Patrice Rushen.

The June 14 concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Carver Museum at (512) 974-4926. More about the museum online at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/carver/.

Tickets for the June 17 concert are $15 adults / $12 students and seniors. For tickets or more concert information, please call 512-345-8866 ext. 43. You can also visit First Presbyterian online at http://www.fpcaustin.org.

The Young Eight, with violinists Mariana Green-Hill, Kenneth L. Jarvis, John H. Littlejohn and Quinton I. Morris, violists Christopher Jenkins and Dawn Michelle Smith and cellists Ryan Murphy and Tahirah Whittington has established itself as one of the next generation’s most dynamic and energetic chamber ensembles, presenting performances in New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Austin. Founded in 2002 at the North Carolina School of the Arts by director Quinton I. Morris, this critically acclaimed African-American octet is dedicated to exposing various communities to the arts through classical music and has been recognized for their dedication to children, music and education.

Members received their music education from The Boston Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and Peabody Conservatory of Music. The Young Eight has served as String Octet in Residence at the North Carolina School of the Arts and is currently in residence at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas (where they present a String Seminar for young musicians) and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan. Other residency programs have included the Harlem School of the Arts, Community Music Works, First Philadelphia Charter School for Literacy, and Winston-Salem State University. Learn more about their many program initiatives at http://www.theyoungeight.com.

For press inquiries and more information about The Young Eight, please contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-797-9166 .