On Thurs., Sept. 25, the world-renowned Daedalus Quartet returned to the North Babylon School District to host tuning workshops at Robert Moses Middle School and North Babylon High School. This was the first of a threeday residency that will benefit musicians of all ages and skill levels throughout the District.

"Tuning a string instrument is one of the hardest skills to learn, and yet it is so rarely taught in any systematic way," explains Kyu-Young Kim of the Daedalus Quartet. "This workshop... guides students and teachers on ways to improve tuning and build it into the curriculum." In addition to advice on tuning, the workshop also featured an exciting tuning competition and discussions about instrument maintenance.

This is the second year of a three-year grant for the District, made available through Kyu-Young Kim and Nancy Duncan, their grant writer. "We are delighted to have such a great relationship with the Daedalus Quartet," said Kim Lowenborg Coyne, director of art and music for the North Babylon School District. Last year, the group performed multiple workshops and assemblies throughout the District, inspiring young musicians and increasing their appreciation for classical music.

The Daedalus Quartet consists of violinists Kyu-Young Kim and Min- Young Kim, violist Jessica Thompson and Ccellist Raman Ramakrishnan. Formed in 2000, they were the grand prize winners of the 2001 Banff International

String Quartet Competition. Daedalus has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan. They were nominated by Carnegie Hall for the European Concert Hall Organization Rising Starts Series, which led to

debuts throughout Europe and at Carnegie Hall in the 2004-05 season. The Quartet was selected by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to be the resident quartet of Chamber Music Society Two for the 2005-06 and the 2006-07 seasons.

Shown in the photo Raman Ramakrish nan of the Daedalus Quartet assists Robert Moses Middle School sixth grader Dylan Oehler as he tunes his cello.

Shown in the photo, orchestra classes at Robert Moses Middle School in the North Babylon School District welcomed the Daedalus Quartet for a special instrument-tuning workshop.

Photo by William Moseley.