The Formosa Quartet will end their Eastern Michigan University residency on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the McKenny Hall Ballroom.
This is the quartet's second week of residency at EMU, after being named the 2023-2024 McAndless Distinguished Professor Chair last year.
“Our project examines perceptions and assumptions about American culture and identity,” Ms. Deborah Pae, Associate Professor of Cello and member of the Formosa Quartet, said. “As a professional string quartet, we are doing this through the lens of music and the performing arts.”
This is the quartet's second week of residency at EMU, after being named the 2023-2024 McAndless Distinguished Professor Chair last year.
“The April residency will allow the Quartet and the EMU community to extend our conversation about American identity,” James Egge, Associate Dean for Programs of College of Arts and Sciences, said.
The Quartet began the first of their two residencies at EMU earlier this year.
“Part of what we feel is so special about this launching point of the American Mirror Project is that it is not just the American Mirror but we really wanted to make a Ypsilanti Mirror in particular” Matthew Cohen, a violinist for the Quartet, said. “We wanted this to reflect and magnify the voices of the Ypsilanti community of past and present.”
“To start this dialogue and start people thinking about things that other people are saying and thinking, that seems worthwhile to me, a way for music to be bigger than music,” Jasmine Lin, a violinist for the Quartet, said.
The conclusion of their residency will include a performance that magnifies the identities embedded throughout American history.
“I hope this kind of Project gives people greater interest in getting to know communities other than their own within America,” Cohen said.“I hope it inspires curiosity and drive to learn more and explore."
