The string quartet ETHEL spent 10 years as ensemble in residence with the Grand Canyon Music Festival's Native American Composer Apprentice Project, working with composers and high school students from mostly Navajo and Hopi communities to create new works. The 2011 documentary "Strings on the Rez" followed the quartet for two years during this experience, and now the quartet is releasing the film online on Sunday June 21 to support relief efforts for Navajo and Hopi communities that have been hard-hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
A Tempo host Rachel Katz this Saturday (6/20 at 7 pm) speaks with ETHEL violist and co-founder Ralph Farris, as well as composer Michael Begay, who started as a student with the program, and composer James Bilogody, who has also collaborated with the quartet.
