"Joyful" is the word that audiences use to describe this trio's presentation of classical, inspirational and pop standards. The violin-clarinet-piano ensemble from Ekaterinburg, Russia, presented by the Grant County Community Concert Association, will delight their Silver City audience on Tuesday, February 14th, starting at 7:00 p.m. in theWNMU Fine Arts Theater.

The group of three friends was formed in May of 1998 just after they had graduated from the Ural State Music Conservatory and were eager to perform. Today, Joseph Ross has replaced the original pianist. He is a graduate of Lawrence University and the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. Victoria Gorbich (violin) and Vladislav Gorbich (clarinet) are doctoral graduates of Arizona State University. Their concerts showcase unique Russian arrangements, transpositions of timeless melodies and feature classical works, well-known inspirational songs, and even American pop standards such as Scott Joplin rags. The group has now played more than 600 concerts in nearly 15 years of touring. When not found in concert venues, college or high school auditoriums, or giving Master Classes, the trio is performing for Sunday services or presenting concerts in churches.

The Kat Trio will offer an Educational Outreach program for grades 1 through 5 on the morning of the scheduled evening concert from 10:30 to 11:30 in the WNMU Fine Arts Theater. It is free of charge to the children, and bus transportation will be paid by GCCCA upon request by the school. For more information, call Karen at 575-388-2386.

The concert and educational outreach project are made possible in part by the New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts.

This concert is certainly one of the "don't miss" events of this concert season. Peter and Pat Falley, President and Vice-President of GCCCA said, "We saw The Kat Trio in Las Cruces last year and they were dynamic; we're looking forward to another great show." Mary Ihlefeld, GCCCA Secretary, says, "I saw this group perform last summer at the Live On Stage event in Nashville, and they are truly amazing."

For non-GCCCA subscribers, tickets to The Kat Trio concert are $20 for adults and $5 for students to age 17 not accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Students coming with an adult ticket holder are admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at Blackwell Antiques, Western Stationers in Silver City, the MRAC office in the Wells Fargo Bank building, online at www.gccconcerts.org or in the lobby at the time of the concert.

For further information, call 538-5862 or go to www.gccconcerts.org.