Pro Musica, a local organization created to boost interest in classical music in Joplin and the region, is presenting a concert by the award-winning Tesla String Quartet.

The quartet will perform at 7 p.m. on March 17 at First Community Church, 2007 E. 15th Street in Joplin. The performance is free to attend, but donations will be accepted.

The Tesla Quartet is made up of Ross Snyder, violin; Michelle Lie, violin; Edwin Kaplan, viola; and Serafim Smigelskiy, cello. The group came to life at The Juilliard School in 2008 and has become a promising group in New York.

The Tesla Quartet has racked up several awards. Included are second prize at the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition, the Gold Medal at the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, third prize and the Best Interpretation of the Commission Work award at the Sixth International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna. Other awards were earned at the London and Bordeaux International String Quartet Competitions.

Bonnie Yetter, managing director of Pro Musica, is excited for the quartet to come to town.

“We are proud to be bringing this young, up and coming quartet to Joplin,” said Yetter. “They have won some prestigious awards and performed in many countries. Their repertoire is great classical music, and I think the audience will appreciate what they present.”

Cynthia Schwab founded Pro Musica in 1981. Schwab’s mission for the organization was to “foster interest in, appreciation for, and enjoyment of classical music in Joplin and the Four-State area.” And according to Yetter, the mission remains the same.

“The mission has stayed the same throughout the years,” Yetter said. “We endeavor to bring only the highest quality professional groups to Joplin. They come from around the world.”

The Tesla Quartet is very much community minded. The group does outreach to children’s hospitals, libraries and schools. The group spent three years working with the Aspen Music Festival and provided lessons, classes, workshops and performances for young string players in Colorado.

While visiting Joplin, the Tesla Quartet will have one outreach event at Spring River Christian Village. The event will take place Thursday, March 17 at 2 p.m. and is free to attend.