EDMOND—Sixteen-time Grammy award-winning banjoist Béla Fleck performed alongside string quartet Brooklyn Rider on January 16 for 701 concertgoers at Armstrong Auditorium in the fourth event of the 2017–2018 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert series.

“The way they opened and the way they closed really maximized the strength of what these performers bring to the stage,” concert manager Ryan Malone said, noting that Fleck and the quartet hit their musical “sweet spot” especially during those numbers. “Béla, when he was doing his solo work and his encore [Irish bluegrass], was what I know everyone loves him for.” The quartet’s concluding tribute to Brooklyn, New York, “to me embodied everything that’s great about that group,” he said.

“I was really happy with the turnout in spite of the cold,” Mr. Malone added. Temperatures during the day had dipped to as low as 5 degrees.

Béla Fleck has been a professional banjoist since 1976. In 1979, he cofounded the band Spectrum in Kentucky. He joined New Grass Revival in 1981 and recorded five albums blending bluegrass, rock and country music. He explored the world of classical music with his 2001 album, Perpetual Motion. He has recorded on albums by Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, The Oak Ridge Boys, and The Gatlin Brothers.

Brooklyn Rider consists of Johnny Gandelsman (violin), Colin Jacobsen (violin), Nicholas Cords (viola) and Michael Nicolas (cello). Strings called the group “the future of chamber music.” The group celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015 with Almanac and last October released Spontaneous Symbols.

The 2017–2018 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert series continued last night and tonight, January 29-30, with the Moscow Festival Ballet making its fourth appearance on the Armstrong stage.