Permian Basin String Quartet

John Madura Alex Norris Melssa Madura Amy Huzjak Described by the Odessa American as “a precise and authoritative sound” the Permian Basin String Quartet (PBSQ) is the resident quartet of the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale and is comprised of the principal string players of the . The quartet members have developed a loyal audience and a reputation as a leading ensemble in the Permian Basin.

The PBSQ has made recent appearances in Midland, Odessa, Abilene, Alpine, San Angelo, Big Spring, Lubbock, and Hobbs, NM. In 2015, the PBSQ was the featured guest artist on the Abilene Christian University (ACU) Tour as the soloists on Short Stories by Joel Puckett as well as gave the Texas premiers of several works by ACU visiting composer Hyunjoo Lee. In 2013 the PBSQ appeared in the Abilene Philharmonic series as well as the Church of the Heavenly Rest Chamber series. The PBSQ frequently appears with the San Angelo State University , has given masterclasses in Mexico and Lubbock, TX as well as appeared with Chamber Music Amarillo.

In addition to performance, the PBSQ is very dedicated to music education. The PBSQ gives educational concerts at elementary schools in the Permian Basin throughout the year. In addition, the PBSQ serves as section coaches for several high school in the Permian Basin as well as the University of Texas-Permian Basin (UTPB) University Orchestra. The PBSQ has also partnered with UTPB as the faculty for the All-Region Summer Workshop as well as the Hartwick College Summer Festival in Oneonta, NY. Members of the PBSQ are on faculty at UTPB, ACU, Midland College and Odessa College as well as maintain private studios.

For more information about the quartet, educational programs, and schedule, please visit www.mosc.org or our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/PermianBasinStringQuartet Permian Basin String Quartet Repertoire 2015-2016

Beethoven String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127

Beethoven String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130

Beethoven String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

Beethoven String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135

Beethoven Grosse Fugue in B Flat Major, Op. 133

Brahms String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2

Debussy String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Haydn String Quartet No. 23 in F minor, Op. 20, No. 5

Shostakovich String Quartet No. 10 in A-flat Major John Madura, a native of Arden Hills, Minnesota, began studying the at the age of three and has been playing professionally since he was six years old. He is currently in his ninth season as Concertmaster of the Midland Odessa Symphony Orchestra and First Violin in the Permian Basin String Quartet.

Highlights of Mr. Madura’s career include playing the Brahms Violin Concerto with the MOSC in 2010. It was also with this concerto that he won the 2004 Texas Tech University Concerto Competition and performed it with the TTU Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Gary Lewis. Other solo appearances include performances with the Abilene Christian University Orchestra as well as the ACU University Choir. He was also invited to perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Caprock Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble in a concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. The following summer, Mr. Madura was selected as a finalist in the Schlern International Music Competition taking place in Schlern, Italy.

Mr. Madura has an extensive history in orchestral performance and has been part of symphony orchestras in Midland, Lubbock, Abilene, San Angelo and Big Spring in Texas and Baton Rouge and Lafayette in Louisiana. He is in his fourth season as Concertmaster for Southwest Symphony in Hobbs, NM and sits Assistant Concertmaster with Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also Concertmaster of the Natchez Opera Orchestra and was Assistant Concertmaster for the Abilene Opera Orchestra. Mr. Madura has performed with Chamber Music Amarillo and was invited to participate in the Quartz Mountain Music Festival Orchestra and String Quartet. He has performed with major artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Brad Leali, The Smothers Brothers, Mercedes Ellington, Sarah Brightman, Sandi Patty and Smokey Robinson.

Key instructors for Mr. Madura include Dr. John Gilbert at TTU, James Alexander and Kevork Mardirossian at Louisiana State University and Elizabeth Ericksen of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mr. Madura enjoys teaching, playing the violin in both chamber and orchestral ensembles, and disc golfing when time allows. He is a proud father of two beautiful children. Alex Norris is currently the Principal Second Violin of the Midland-Odessa Symphony, also fulfilling the role of Second Violin in the Permian Basin String Quartet. Originally from Wisconsin, Alex completed his undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin Madison under Felicia Moye, before attending Texas Tech to receive his Master’s as a teaching assistant to Annie Chalex-Boyle. While studying, Alex served as concertmaster for both universities, respectively. Prior to moving to Midland, Alex served as Principal Second Violin of Lubbock Symphony, and was a guest concertmaster of the Big Spring Symphony. Currently, in addition to the Midland-Odessa Symphony, Alex performs with the Abilene Philharmonic as Section First Violin. Alex has an extensive history of chamber music, ranging from attending the String Quartet Program of FEMUSC in Santa Catarina, Brazil, to collaborating on the Mendelssohn Octet with the Pacifica Quartet. In addition, Alex has attended music festivals including the Round Top Festival Institute, The Brevard Music Center, and the Hot Springs and Marrowstone festivals. Alex teaches junior high and high school age violinists throughout the Midland-Odessa area, and is Adjunct Professor of Violin at Abilene Christian University. Melissa Madura grew up on a small farm in Viroqua, WI. She began playing the viola when she was 14 years old and now holds a Bachelors degree in Viola Performance from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, a Masters of Music from Texas Tech University and has begun her doctoral studies at Texas Tech University.

Mrs. Madura enjoys playing in solo, orchestral, and chamber music settings. This is her eighth year as Principal Violist in the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Violist in the Permian Basin String Quartet. She has been playing with the Midland-Odessa Symphony for eleven years. She plays in the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and has also played with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Amarillo, Big Spring Symphony, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra and was principal violist for her undergraduate and graduate institution orchestras. She was also the violist for the Texas Tech University Graduate String Quartet, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra String Quartet and Lawrence University Community Outreach Resident Ensemble with which she was invited on an international tour to Vietnam. She has appeared as a soloist with the Caprock Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble playing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante under the baton of Gary Lewis and was also invited to play as a soloist with her teacher, Renee Skerik, playing the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 6.

Mrs. Madura loves to teach and is in her sixth year of teaching at UTPB as Adjunct Professor of Viola. She maintains a large studio of private students in the Midland-Odessa area and is also Orchestra Director for St. Ann’s School in Midland. She has been invited to teach masterclasses at institutions such as Texas Tech University and Abilene Christian University.

Mrs. Madura’s principal teachers include Renee Skerik and Dr. John Gilbert at Texas Tech University and Matthew Michelic of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Originally from Colorado, cellist Amy Huzjak has been a member of the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale since September 2011, serving as Principal Cellist and as cellist of the Permian Basin String Quartet. Amy also plays with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, and freelances throughout West Texas. She has a studio of over 30 students in the Midland/Odessa area and is the Adjunct Professor of Cello at the University of Texas-Permian Basin, Abilene Christian University, Midland College, and Odessa College.

Before moving to Texas, Amy was the Principal Cellist of the Huntington (WV) Symphony Orchestra and played with several D.C area orchestras including the Fairfax (VA) Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Orchestra (MD), and the Prince William (VA) Symphony. She was on faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD as well as had a private studio in College Park, MD.

Amy received her Masters degree in Music Performance at the University of Maryland in May 2011. During her time there, Amy served as an Orchestral Graduate Assistant, studying with David Teie and Evelyn Elsing. She received her Bachelors degree Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University in May of 2009 where she studied with Thomas Landschoot. Amy has participated in numerous summer festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and Killington Music Festival, studying with Michael Mermeguen, Andrew Schulman, and Brinton Smith.