Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and
Curtis Institute of Music
Present
The Dover Quartet
April 10 • Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center
Considered one of the most remarkably talented string quartets ever to emerge at such a young age, the Dover Quartet catapulted to international stardom following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. The group is the first quartet-in-residence for the Curtis Institute of Music.
“The young American string quartet of the moment.” (The New Yorker)
“The Dover Quartet’s Kennedy Center debut shows why they should be on must-hear list…..a triumph.” (Washington Post)
“I fully expect them to emerge as one of the brightest lights of their musical generation and to bring the highest artistic standards to their work for many years to come.” (Fred Child, Performance Today)
(Sarasota, Florida) Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, in partnership with the Curtis Institute of Music, present the Dover Quartet in concert, Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. This award-winning group will perform Haydn’s Quartet in G Major, Op. 76, No. 1; Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 7; and Dvorak’s Quartet in C Major, Op. 61. Tickets are $40 and $45 and can be purchased online at www.artistseriesconcerts.org or by calling 941-360-7399.
The Dover Quartet (Joel Link, violin; Bryan Lee, violin; Camden Shaw, cello; Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola) draws from the musical lineage of both the Vermeer and Guarneri Quartets, while also bringing youthful enthusiasm and musical conviction to the repertoire that are truly its own. The group catapulted to international stardom following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, becoming one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world. The New Yorker recently dubbed it “the young American string quartet of the moment,” and The Strad raved that the Quartet is “already pulling away from their peers with their exceptional interpretive maturity, tonal refinement and taut ensemble.” Members of the quartet have appeared as soloists with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic. The Dover Quartet draws from the musical lineage of the Cleveland, Vermeer, and Guarneri Quartets, having studied at the Curtis Institute and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where they were in residence from 2011-2013. In 2013-14, the Quartet became the first ever quartet-in-residence for the Curtis Institute of Music.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Curtis Institute for this regional debut by these remarkable young musicians,” says John Fischer, executive director of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. “The Dover Quartet has quickly established itself as a formidable presence in the music world. Audiences will clearly see why it’s one of the world’s most highly sought-after ensembles.”
Fischer adds that the concert is part of ASC’s 2015 Competition for Strings, which takes place the following day, Saturday, April 11, also at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center.
Now in its 13th year, the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Scholarship Program sponsors one of the most prestigious competitions in Florida. The competition rotates each year between voice, piano, or string instruments and is open to talented young musicians who are residents of Florida. Under the guidance of Joy McIntyre since 2007, the program developed in size and quality and has resulted in substantial awards funded by supporters of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. The Virginia B. Toulmin Award of $6,000 goes to the first prize winner in the Performance Level (ages 20-25) and the Jerold and Lee Dougherty Ross Scholarship Award of $3,000 provides the first prize in the Scholarship Level (ages 14-19). The semi-finals competition begins at 10 a.m.; finals competition begins at 7:30 p.m.
“The Curtis Institute has well-earned international prestige, and for Artist Series Concerts this opportunity to link our own state-wide scholarship competition (with two of the three finals judges being Curtis graduates) and the performance by the Dover Quartet is truly the kind of win-win experience we love,” says Fischer.
Since 1996, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota has presented an ever-expanding annual season of concerts by globally renowned and celebrated emerging artists. The 2014-2015 season runs through May 2015 and includes six concerts in its “Classical Recital Series,” four concerts in its “Pop Series,” and three special concerts. Three “Lunch, Look and Listen” events are also scheduled. For more information about the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 2014-2015 season, visit www.artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota was formed in 1996 as the Artist Series of Sarasota. The group is a non-profit corporation based in Sarasota, FL, that prides itself on presenting several major national and international varieties of concert, opera, orchestral, Broadway and film performances throughout their season. The majority of the performances are staged at the restored Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling.
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level. One of the world’s leading conservatories, Curtis provides its 168 students with full-tuition scholarships and personalized attention from a celebrated faculty. Its distinctive “learn by doing” approach has produced an impressive number of notable artists, from such legends as Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber to current stars Jonathan Biss, Juan Diego Flórez, Alan Gilbert, Hilary Hahn, Jennifer Higdon, and Lang Lang. Curtis alumni hold principal chairs in every major American orchestra, and each season they are featured as guest soloists with the world’s leading orchestras, opera houses, and chamber music series.
Photos courtesy of the artists.
