WMU Home > About WMU > WMU News

WMU News

Popular Bowfire returns to Miller Auditorium

March 17, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Bowfire, "a total violin experience," makes its return to Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University, for one show only, Saturday, March 25, at 8 p.m.

Bowfire is a union of 10 critically acclaimed violinists and fiddlers whose expertise encompasses styles as diverse as classical, jazz, country, rock, old-time, Texas-style, bluegrass, gypsy, eclectic, Celtic and electric. The expansive ranges of material presented in their performances serve not only as a testament to the virtuosity of these musicians, but also as a loving tribute to this amazingly versatile, complex and romantic instrument.

Formed six years ago, Bowfire made its debut performance the following month at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. Audience response was enthusiastic and the group was subsequently invited to perform on the Governor-General's Awards telecast, the Canadian equivalent of the United States' Kennedy Center Honors. The ensemble made its American debut in a series of performances during summer 2001 in New York City.

Bowfire is made up of the leading names in each genre of modern violin playing. Artistic Director Lenny Solomon, who composes and arranges many of the group's selections, is one of the leading jazz violinists performing today. He is joined by nine other acclaimed violinists: Quebecois jazz talent Stephane Allard; classical virtuosos Lara St. John and Bogdan Djukic; bluegrass fiddler Ray Legere; Celtic fiddlers Stephanie Cadman, Kelli Trottier and Richard Wood; 21-year-old Shane Cook, a master of several styles; and virtuoso of the Chinese erhu George Gao.

Tickets for "Bowfire" range from $25 to $40 for non-student adults and are available by calling (269) 387-2300 or toll free (800) 228-9858, online at www.millerauditorium.com, or by visiting the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office or the Epic Center Box Office in downtown Kalamazoo. Groups of 20 or more should call (269) 387-2312 for group rates.

Media contact: Thomas Cooper, (269) 387-2245, thomas.cooper@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news