Bringing classical music to the four-state area, Pro Musica will expand to Carthage this year.

“Last year we had the Jupiter String Quartet. A lot of the schools brought in more than just the fourth and fifth graders because they are so excited that their students are getting exposed to this kind of music,” said Bonnie Yetter, executive assistant of Joplin’s Pro Musica.

To kick off 2008, Pro Musica has invited Daedalus Quartet and Bruce Adolphe.

Daedalus Quartet took its name from the Greek mythological character, Daedalus. Daedalus was known for creating the art of sculpture, creating the Labyrinth that held the Minotaur, and inventing wings used to escape from his imprisonment.

In 2001, Daedalus Quartet earned the Grand Prize of the Banff International String Quartet Competition. This gave the group instant international fame in the world of classical music.

The group includes Min-Young Kim, violinist, Kyu-Young Kim, violinist, Jessica Thompson, violist, and Raman Ramakrishnan, cellist.

Adolphe is an internationally known composer. He has written many books on music, is the Lecturer and Director of Family Concerts at the Chamber of Music Society of Lincoln Center, founding creative director for PolyRythm Productions, and host of Piano Puzzlers radio show on Southern’s KRPS radio station.

The performance at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, at First Baptist Church on 7th and Pearl, will be free of charge, but Pro Musica will be accepting donations. They will also perform a family concert at 11 a.m. on Feb. 16 in Webster Hall. The tickets for the show at Webster will cost $7.50 for adults, $5 for children three to 12, and free for children less than two years of age.

Tickets will be available at Cleo’s Picture Framing, Ernie Williamson, All Things Grand, Hometown Bank, and Pro Musica’s home office, located on 211 S. Main Street, suite 318 in Joplin.