The Opal String Quartet will perform on January 27

The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement will host the Opal String Quartet in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, in UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. The four-piece ensemble will perform Shostakovich’s Fifth String Quartet and Brahms’ Second String Quintet. The event is free and open to the public.

Based in Asheville, the Opal String Quartet was formed in 2006. The group has performed at a wide variety of venues, from concert halls and classrooms to libraries and street corners. Members include Amy Lovinger, Ginger Kowal, Kara Poorbaugh and Franklin Keel. Violist Gina Caldwell will join the Quartet as a special guest for this concert.

Lovinger holds a master’s degree from Kent State University and is principal second violinist of the Asheville Symphony, associate concertmaster of the Hendersonville Symphony, and performs with the Asheville Lyric Opera.

Kowal, a violinist, is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and studied at the Oberlin Conservatory. Currently, she is a student at UNC Asheville.

Poorbaugh holds a degree in viola performance and music education from Eastman School of Music. She is currently principal violist and music librarian of the Asheville Symphony.

Keel holds a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School of Music and is currently pursuing a master of music degree at Appalachian State University, where he is the cellist of the Hayes String Quartet.

Caldwell holds a doctorate of music arts from the Catholic University of America. She is the founder and director of the Joyful Noise Community Music and Arts Center in Weaverville.

For more information, call the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at 828/251-6140.