Sybarite5, returning to Penn State after its remarkable State College debut in 2016, is always on the lookout for new tunes and composers speaking with unique and relevant voices. Outliers, the title of the string quintet’s concert program and its 2018 album, celebrates works written for the ensemble by the musicians’ favorite composers and friends they’ve make while traveling the world.

A reviewer for Limelight, Australia’s classical music and arts magazine, describes Outliers as “an addictive album of surprisingly cool string quintets. … Not only are they one of the few dedicated quintet line-ups out there, over the past twelve years they have almost single-handedly rejuvenated the repertoire, commissioning new works at a rate of half a dozen per annum, from some of the most interesting voices on the U.S. contemporary music scene.”

Sybarite5, the first string quintet to win the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, performs the music of Andy Akiho, William Brittelle of Future Shock, Kenji Bunch, Shawn Conley, Michael Gilbertson, Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Brandon Ridenour, Steven Snowden, Dan Visconti, and Aleksandra Vrebalov. The “Millennial Kronos,” as the ensemble has been nicknamed, pairs those selections with Armenian folk music plus songs by Astor Piazzolla and Radiohead.

Formed at the Aspen Music Festival, the New York City-based quintet features violinists Sami Merdinian and Sarah Whitney, violist Angela Pickett, cellist Laura Metcalf, and bassist Louis Levitt.

The program selections will be announced from the stage.

Artistic Viewpoints will not be offered before this performance.