Boston Philharmonic String Quartet & More Set for Eric Schwartz Memorial Cancer Benefit Concert at Tufts University, 10/26

Some of Boston's leading classical, Latin and world musical artists will perform at Tufts University on Saturday, October 26, to raise money for brain cancer research, in memory of a friend who lost his battle with the disease.

The second annual Eric Schwartz Memorial Cancer Benefit Concert will feature music by The Boston Philharmonic String Quartet, The International String Duo, and Curubande. Tickets are $21 in advance or $25 at the door, with proceeds going to the Translational Neuro-Oncology Laboratory (TNOL) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

"MGH is doing wonderful research into brain cancer," said Sarita Uranovsky, an acclaimed violinist who organized the fundraiser in honor of her late husband. "Eric donated his brain to the hospital with the hope that the medical community can better understand this brutal killer."

Eric Schwartz passed away in 2012 at the age of 41, following a 12-month fight with glioblastoma, a group of malignant brain cancers. On average, patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma survive less than 15 months. Massachusetts General Hospital is helping to lead research into possible genetic-based therapies to fight malignant gliomas.

Uranovsky has toured internationally and performed with the Boston Pops and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. She and her late husband had many friends in the music community, many of whom attended frequent dinner parties at their home, and helped out during Eric's struggle with cancer.

Among the artists who are scheduled to perform on Saturday are:

· The Boston Philharmonic String Quartet - Four members of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, including Uranovosky, who is the chamber group's first violinist, will perform Haydn's "Sunrise" string quartet.

· The International String Duo - Violinist Ben Powell and jazz guitarist Slava Tolstoy will entertain with jazz, celtic, Folk and world music.

· Curubande - Led by vocalist and percussionist Manolo Mairena, Curubande is one of New England's most popular Salsa bands, with a fresh energy and new compositions off their debut CD. Angel Subero, a bass trombonist in the group, is a friend of Uranovsky.

"The concert will have something for almost every taste, from mellow classical music to high-energy Latin music," Uranovsky said. "There is no better way to celebrate life than though music, and by bringing together such diverse musical genres is a fitting tribute to Eric's memory."

The Eric Schwartz Memorial Cancer Benefit Concert will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, at Distler Concert Hall, Garnoff Music Center, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts. Tickets are $21 in advance or $25 at the door. To purchase tickets or make a donation, please visit www.cancerbenefitconcert.org.

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