The University of Wisconsin’s Pro Arte String Quartet is taking a break this semester. Well, a part-time break — from teaching, but not from performing.
“It’s like a half-sabbatical,” says cellist Parry Karp, the senior member of the group that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012 with several commissions. That’s because three of the four members (second violinist Suzanne Beia is the exception) hold joint appointments that are half-time performing and half-time teaching.