Pro-Musica to close with 'hip, fun' concert

For its closing concert of the 2006-07 season, El Paso Pro-Musica artistic director Zuill Bailey invited the Elektra Chamber Players to present something a little different. "All year long, we've had such a purity of the finest in chamber music with Mozart and Bach," Bailey said. "I wanted us to end on a note of pushing forward and hearing music in a different way.

These musicians play instruments we know in a new way. We'll hear a hybrid of classical music, jazz, country fiddling and tango. I'm very much looking forward to it.

" The Elektra Chamber Players is made up of pianist Maria Asteriadou, violinist Kurt Nikkanen, percussionist Andrew Blanco and bassist Rob Wasserman. The musicians will begin the concert by performing the piece "Trilaterus," composed by Wasserman. "It's going to be such a hip and fun concert," said Bailey.

"Zuill has never disappointed us, so I'm sure it's going to be great," Gum said. Having been a supporter of Pro-Musica for

more than 20 years, she said one of her dreams came true in January when Pro-Musica presented the Juilliard String Quartet. "That was the most thrilling for me," she said.

"I never did think I'd ever get the chance to hear them up close and personal." Looking back at the end of the 200607 season, Bailey said he couldn't be more pleased. "It's been a dream in a lot of ways," he said.

"We made a great impact with the music and the educational outreach." Plans are being finalized for next season as well. Though Bailey couldn't release the details of all the events, he did say the performers would include the Tokyo String Quartet, the Assad Brothers (a Brazilian guitar duo) and pianist Leon Fleischer, who will celebrate his 80th birthday next year.

"The main season is going to be interestingly spicy, and the El Paso Chamber Music Festival will continue to delve into the hard-core classics," Bailey said.

When: Family concert at 10 a.m.

and regular concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.