With the award-winning Cavani String Quartet celebrating its 40th anniversary, founding member Annie Fullard said the ideas behind its origins remain the same now as they were in the beginning.

“The Cavani Quartet continues to be inspired by the empathetic and communicative power of chamber music,” she said during a recent interview, “and we believe it is a catalyst for deeper listening and connection between all of us as members of a larger world community.

“The quartet is humbled and excited by the variety of sublime music written for string quartet, both today and from the past. We also draw inspiration from the legacy of our transformative mentors and teachers as well as powerfully engaging with our students – past and present – who continue to renew our faith in the power of art to change lives.”

Fullard, who plays violin, will be joined by Cavani members Catherine Cosbey (violin) and Kyle Price (cello) for a free performance 7:30 p.m. Saturday at St. John Episcopal Church in Youngstown as part of the Pipino Performing Arts Series.

“There is a special joy that comes from sharing beautiful music with our audiences of all ages who actually become a ‘fifth’ member of the ensemble by responding to what they sense and feel when they listen to us perform. We look forward to sharing some moving and inspiring tunes with the Youngstown community.”

At the St. John’s concert, the quartet will be joined by Fullard’s son, Samuel Rosenthal, on viola, who replaces Ayane Kozasa.

“It has always been second nature to the Cavani Quartet to be joyfully collaborative and have a teamwork approach to rehearsing and performing. It seems natural to include another family member, especially Sam, who has grown up hearing the quartet rehearse and perform. Sam is an incredible, prize-winning young artist in his own right.”

Mark Kosower, principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, will join as guest artist on a Franz Schubert composition and, as Fullard said, “broadening the expressive power of the ensemble and creating an entirely unique emotional range.”

Named after the legendary Italian violin maker, the Cavani String Quartet began in 1984 when four musicians started an ensemble that balanced teaching with performing works by Beethoven, Ravel, Bartok, Dvorak, Schumann, Brahms, Shostakovich among others, as well as collaborating with new composers, and creating programs that combined music with poetry, visual art and dance.

Since then, the Cleveland-based musicians have earned numerous awards and grants and toured all 50 states and internationally. For more than 30 years, the quartet served as faculty Artists-in-Residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and in honor of Beethoven’s 250 birthday, Cavani created “Beyond Beethoven,” a project that featured performances of all of the composer’s string quartets and culminated in a concert at Severance Hall with students and teachers from Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Lakeview, Shaker Heights and Strongsville.

Offering an instructive moment, she discussed how the quartet brings in musical elements that broaden its scope.

“Classical music is often equated with its Western roots, originating from ancient classical Greece, and traveling throughout Europe. However, classical music exists in every culture, and has since the beginning of time. Music inspired by all of these languages and histories finds its way into the string quartet repertoire. Therefore, we reject no influence and love to experience the world through a variety of composers from every culture and genre.”

“On Saturday’s concert we’re excited to share the quartet by French composer Maurice Ravel, which takes its influence from East Asian art and music, inspired by the sound of a Balinese Gamelan and the musical scales of Indonesia, Japan and China.”

Looking beyond Youngstown, Fullard discussed what’s in store for Cavani’s 40th year.

“We are combining forces with renowned composer Gabriela Lena Frank and four composers who participate in her Composing Earth Program. They are creating a work for string quartet, which incorporates themes relating to the power of nature to transform and renew – a perfect metaphor to celebrate the Cavani Quartet’s long and fulfilling musical journey.”