October 24 - Pacifica Quartet at 2 PM
Simin Ganatra, violin
Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin
Masumi Per Rostad, viola
Brandon Vamos, cello

Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often-daring repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet has carved out a compelling and critically lauded musical path, resulting in Musical America naming the group its 2009 “Ensemble of the Year.”

The Pacifica also received the music industry’s most coveted recognition with its 2009 “Best Chamber Music Performance” Grammy Award for its acclaimed recording of Elliot Carter’s String Quartets Nos. 1 & 5 (Naxos).

November 21 - Harlem Quartet at 2 PM

Ilmar Gavilan, violin
MelissaWhite, violin
Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola
Desmond Neysmith, cello

The Harlem Quartet, First Place laureates of the
Sphinx Competition, has a unique and challenging mission: to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences. Dedicated to education and community engagement, as well as to superb classical performance, this innovative and daring all-Black and Latino string quartet has been chosen as the next resident ensemble in New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet.

March 20 - Brass Roots Trio at 2 PM

Rosetta Bacon, piano,
Travis Heath, trumpet
Kyra Sims, horn (and vocalist)

This trio creates colorful programs that take unexpected twists and turns! Brass RootsTrio draws the audience into the intimacy of their music with their warmth and their spontaneity…and there is the bonus surprise in every concert when the horn player puts down her instrument and sings a Gershwin song or spiritual with her luscious mezzo voice! Since 2005 Brass Roots Trio has demonstrated their prodigious talents across the country and around the world

April 17 - Alexander String Quartet at 2 PM

Zakarias Grafilo, violin
Frederick Lifsitz, violin
Paul Yarbrough, viola
SandyWilson, cello

The Alexander String Quartet has performed in major music capitals of five continents, securing its standing among the world’s premier ensembles. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, and Shostakovich, the quartet established itself as an important advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances. The New York Times wrote, “The intimacy of the music came through with enhanced power and poignancy in the Alexander quartet’s vibrant, probing, assured and aptly volatile performances.… Seldom have these anguished, playful, ironic and masterly works seemed so profoundly personal.”