The Miró Quartet performed at Fox Chapel Area High School on March 14. Additionally, three string quartets and the ambassador orchestra from
the high school performed and the members of the Miró Quartet led all of the students in masterclasses. The Miró also held Q & A sessions.
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
ox Chapel Area
ORCHESTRA DEMONSTRATES MUSICAL
TRANSCENDENCE
High School Program Chosen for National Award by Miró Quartet
I
t was an extraordinary gift! In celebration of their 20th
anniversary and the release of their “Transcendence”
album, the internationally-renowned Miró Quartet
selected Fox Chapel Area High School’s orchestra
program and orchestra teacher Mairi Cooper to receive the
Transcendence Education Project award. Quartet members
spent March 14 at the high school – leading masterclasses,
Orchestra teacher Mairi Cooper conducts the ambassador orchestra
in a performance before their masterclass with members of the
Miró Quartet.
performing, and participating in question and answer
sessions. Any student involved in the high school music
program was invited to attend. Ninth grader Chloe Yofan,
a violinist and member of one of the quartets, said of the
experience, “It was crazy. First of all, they were so good.”
She added, “I didn’t think anyone could play that well.”
Chloe said that her mother first told her about the contest
sponsored by the Miró Quartet, whose members were
seeking to recognize a program that demonstrated musical
transcendence. Chloe then spoke with Ms. Cooper who
encouraged her to apply for the award.
It was just five days before the application was due when
Chloe met with a group of her orchestra friends to talk about
the award. She and junior Francesco Fava, who is a member
of her quartet, along with freshmen orchestra friends Leah
Fetting and Arnav Gupta, got together at her house and in two
days prepared the 30-second video. They said they wanted to
recognize Ms. Cooper who has demonstrated “transcendence”
by being a mentor and a music educator and winning the 2015
Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award. Chloe said they
decided what piece to play on the first day and wrote a script
of w