(CHATHAM, N.Y.) – PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century kicks off its 2013 performance season with the eighth annual Paul Grunberg Memorial Bach Concert on Saturday, June 15, 2013, at 7:30pm. This all-Bach program features Eugene Drucker on violin and Marija Stroke on piano, performing one unaccompanied work for each instrument and two together: D Minor Partita for solo violin; Keyboard Partita in B flat Major; and piano-violin sonatas in F Minor and E Major.

This annual concert is held in memory of Paul Grunberg, the late husband of PS21 President Judy Grunberg. “There is something about Bach’s work that goes beyond music,” Grunberg said. “As the 20^th century organist, Helmut Walcha, wrote: ‘Bach opens a vista to the universe. After experiencing him, people feel there is meaning to life after all.’”

“The movements of the B-flat Major Partita are inspired by dance forms,” said violinist Eugene Drucker. “The Sonatas are structured differently, each with two stunningly beautiful slow movements interspersed with two rousing fast movements.” Drucker is a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet,

which has over thirty recordings and nine Grammy Awards. Drucker also maintains an active solo career. He has appeared with the orchestras of Montréal, Brussels, Jerusalem and others, as well as the American Symphony Orchestra and Aspen Chamber Symphony.

“The Chaconne, which is the final movement of the D Minor Partita, was an inspiration to many composers who came after Bach,” explained Drucker. “It was based on a Spanish dance in triple meter, which some scholars think was brought back to Spain from Peru. So this may indeed be an early form of ‘world music.’”

Marija Stroke has performed internationally in chamber music and solo recitals. She is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Apollo Trio, and has had solo performances throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe, the U.S, and Canada.

This concert is the first in PS21’s “String Concert Series,” which features three exceptionally accomplished string players from diverse musical and cultural traditions. On June 22, Zal Idrissa Sissokho and Buntalo will perform an evening of West African kora music. On June 29, Tony Trischka will perform an evening of avant-garde banjo acoustic music. This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Tickets for the Saturday, June 15 Paul Grunberg Memorial Bach Concert are can be purchased at PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century, by calling 1-800-838-3006, or at the door until the show sells out. $35 general admission, $30 members/$20 students.

PS21 is located at 2980 Route 66, just one mile north of the village of Chatham.

PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century is a not-for-profit organization in Chatham, NY, dedicated to the performing arts and to serving a diverse community with concerts, programs and residencies by professional artists and ensembles, youth and children’s programming and cultural education opportunities for all ages.