Claire Givens Violins is pleased to sponsor the final 2009 MacPhail String Master Class. The class is $5.00 general admission at the door and free to MacPhail families. The Master Class will take place in Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music, 501 South 2nd Street in downtown Minneapolis. For more information about MacPhail, visit www.macphail.org.

• Daedalus String Quartet, Master Class, Saturday, April 25, 2009, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. The Daedalus Quartet was founded in the summer of 2000, and one year later captured the Grand Prize of the 2001 Banff International String Quartet Competition, quickly establishing itself as among America’s outstanding string quartets.The quartet is active in music education for adults and children alike. Among their accolades, the quartet has served as a resident ensemble of the Lincoln Center Institute, performing for school children throughout the New York metroploitan area, and they have twice been recipients of educational residency grants from Chamber Music America. The quartet’s violist, Jessica Thompson, is a Minneapolis native and former MacPhail student.

Congratulations to Max Lundgren for winning the YPSCA Competition sponsored by the Minnesota Orchestra. Max acquired his cello by Daniele Scolari, Cremona, 2006 from us and it had a glorious sound that was refined, expressive and powerful. He will be performing with the Minnesota Orchestra next year as part of the grand prize.

We are pleased that cellist John Belk was awarded the $600 Givens Violins Prize at the YPSCA Competition Finals.