The Amernet Quartet, quartet-in-residence at Northern Kentucky University, will introduce two exceptional new members to its ensemble in a concert in Greaves Concert Hall today. Mr. Vitenson, 23, a native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Michael Klotz, 24, of Rochester, N.Y., will take first bows at 3 p.m. in the Corbett Chamber Music Series, performing quartets by Mozart, Dimitri Yanov-Yanovsky and Dvorak.

        On Wednesday, a preview of Mozart's G Major Quartet, K. 387 at NKU's informal “Wednesdays at One” series revealed that the new members are richly expressive players. Still getting to know one another — they've only been rehearsing together for about a month — the ensemble is still a work in progress. But on Wednesday, Mr. Vitenson was a confident and authoritative leader, and the quartet's performance was vibrant. The finale, in particular, was supercharged, as quicksilver runs bounced from player to player.

The Amernet Quartet performed recently at Northern Kentucky University. From left, Misha Vitenson, Marcia Littley, Javier Arias and Michael Klotz. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        At 23, Mr. Vitenson is already an accomplished artist with a beautiful tone. He was born in Uzbekistan and moved to Israel 12 years ago. A winner of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship — which has sponsored artists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman and Gil Shaham — Mr. Vitenson came to Florida to study with Sergiu Schwartz at Harid Conservatory, and was a student of Dorothy DeLay, Naoko Tanaka and Joel Smirnoff at New York's Juilliard School. His orchestra appearances include solos with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta.

        Mr. Klotz, who adds a robust sound to the group, made his solo debut with the Rochester Philharmonic at age 17. His teachers have included Zvi Zeitlin at the Eastman School in Rochester. He is one of the few to hold a double master's degree from the Juilliard School in both violin and viola. A regular chamber musician in the New York scene, he often performs with members of the New York Philharmonic and Met Orchestra.

        The group's goal is to “build a tight ensemble and to really expand our concert engagements, as well,” Mr. Vitenson says. It's time that the Amernet, which has won prizes in the past, re-established itself as one of the premiere quartets in the country, he says.

        “I'm loving playing with them,” Mr. Klotz says. “We just hope to reach as many people as possible, and be a vibrant part of the greater Cincinnati arts community. We already have some world-class students, who are recipients of full scholarships, thanks to (arts patron) Mrs. (Patricia) Corbett. We'll be recruiting many more.”

        The Amernet Quartet has undergone several personnel changes since it was founded in 1991. The two new members replace violinist Erez Ofer, who is now co-concertmaster of the Berlin Radio Orchestra, and violist Yoram Youngerman, now a faculty member at East Carolina University in North Carolina.

        The 3 p.m. concert in Greaves Hall is free, and free parking is available. A reception follows. (859) 572-6399.

        Program change: Maestro Mischa Santora was scrambling last week to find a soloist for his season-opening concert next Sunday. Because of strict

        U.S. immigration procedures, Hungarian oboist Lajos Lencses is unable to get into the country in time to play with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Instead, soprano Lauren Flanigan, is stepping in to sing Mozart's Exsultate jubilate and Songs of the Auvergne by Canteloube.

        Ms. Flanigan is the same singer who will star in Cincinnati Opera's Norma next summer. Concerts are at 3 p.m. Sunday in Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m. Monday in Greaves Hall at NKU. Tickets: 723-1182.

        In the news: Xian Xhang, assistant professor of orchestral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, is one of eight international finalists in a prestigious new competition for conductors, the Maazel-Vilar Conductors' Competition. She will compete in the final round, today through Friday in Carnegie Hall, leading one performance with the Orchestra of St. Luke's. The eight finalists were chosen from 56 young maestros who participated in six regional rounds held in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. First prize includes a conducting fellowship with Lorin Maazel, music director of the New York Philharmonic, a cash prize of $45,000 and professional engagements. Mr. Maazel and billionaire philanthropist Alberto Vilar founded the contest in 2001(information: www.maazel-vilar.org).

        The group Duo46 has signed a recording contract with Summit Records. Its first album out in January, New Voices of America, will feature the duo's own commissions. Duo46 is the husband and wife team of guitarist Matt Gould and violinist Beth Ilana Schneider-Gould, the latter a graduate of Wyoming High School. They are in residence at Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. For more about them go to www.duo46.com .

        Jeno Takacs, a former professor of composition and piano at CCM (1952-70) will celebrate his 100th birthday on Wednesday. Mr. Takacs' publisher, Doblinger in Vienna, Austria, will commemorate the centennial with a book of wishes from colleagues and friends such as maestro James Levine and composer Gyorgy Ligeti. More than 200 events are planned, including more than 100 concerts of his music. To send a personal birthday wish to professor Takacs, the address is: Eisenstadter Str. 3, A-7011, Siegendorf, Austria.

        9-11 tributes: CCM conductor Mark Gibson was invited to conduct the Queens Symphony in a memorial tribute concert on Sept. 11, in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens.

        “It was a very difficult concert for a variety of reasons, not the least of which were gale-force winds,” Mr. Gibson says. “It was exciting and very emotional. I told the musicians that the event was about the 2,800 people who couldn't be there with us that night.”

        Last Sept. 11, he was in the last plane to land at LaGuardia Airport at 8:45 a.m., there to conduct the same orchestra.

        And at the Pentagon that day, Tracy Markin Thomas, a CCM grad and former student of Jeannine Philippe, was the singer for the service broadcast over national television.

        Philip Koplow, composer-in-residence at Northern Kentucky University, had his music performed in a tribute concert by SOUNDCLOCK at Merkin Concert Hall in New York on Sept. 11. The concert had a 9-11 theme: Music by nine non-New Yorkers and 11 New York composers formed the program, which had nine pieces on the first half; 11 on the second, Mr. Koplow says.

        For his “Variations on a Hymn Tune (Etudes and Episodes for Solo Violoncello)” Mr. Koplow, who is known for his audience-participatory music, passed out 60 chimes to audience members. It was conducted by Eun-Kyung Kim.

        “It was a wonderful sound and the audience, as always, enjoyed and was moved to be part of the music making,” Mr. Koplow says. “It was a great experience. I really got a sense that New Yorkers feel a part of something important.”

        E-mail jgelfand@enquirer.com

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