Rice Professor Wins Grammys (Finally) with Cleveland Quartet

Media Advisory

CONTACT: David Kaplan

E-MAIL: dkaplan@rice.edu
PHONE: (713) 831-4791

RICE PROFESSOR WINS GRAMMYS (FINALLY) WITH
QUARTET

Back in ’73, Paul Katz, as a member of the Cleveland Quartet, performed live
at the Grammy Awards ceremonies, sharing the stage with Stevie Wonder, Aretha
Franklin and Little Richard. Not only were they the first classical musicians
ever to appear on that show, but they had been nominated for an award.

“It was very exciting, but we lost,” Katz recalls.

This year, Katz and the group won-twice, in fact.

Katz, professor of cello at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, along
with the other members of the group, won Grammys for “Best Chamber Music
Recording” and for “Best Recorded Contemporary Composition.” Both awards were
for selections on the group’s newest and last CD, “Cleveland Quartet: The
Farewell Recording.”

Katz is a founding member of the recently disbanded quartet which was formed
in 1969. His wife Martha Katz is also a founding member. She left the group 17
years ago, and is currently a professor of viola at Rice’s Shepherd School of
Music.

The world-renowned Cleveland Quartet has, over the years, been nominated for
numerous Grammys but, until Wednesday, had never taken home the big prize.

Besides being a premier cello player, Paul Katz is also one of America’s most
sought after cello teachers.

For an interview with Paul Katz or for more information, call David Kaplan at
(713) 831-4791.

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