Emerging String Quartet Program
Program Description
The St. Lawrence String Quartet — whose ongoing exploration of nontraditional venues and new audiences was developed, in part, by early community outreach opportunities — observed a need for similar training programs for the next generation of emerging artists. In response to this need, the SLSQ developed the Emerging String Quartet Program (ESQP).
The ESQP is a workshop focused on community outreach for young professional musicians, in which emerging ensembles are invited to Stanford for a residency of one to two weeks. During the residency, the musicians receive coaching from the SLSQ and experience an intense schedule performing both on- and off- campus for a variety of schools, community groups and Silicon Valley businesses. The musicians, already highly accomplished presenters and performers, are provided rare opportunities to interact with the audiences to develop both their skills as performers and as community builders.
Since the program launched in 2009, the greater Stanford community has benefited from the electricity, passion and excellence of these extraordinary young ensembles while the musicians have gained valuable experience presenting to a wide variety of audiences in a short period of time. The ensembles have gone on to develop rich connections with their communities both in the U.S. and abroad.
On-campus venues have included the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, libraries, medical facilities, and research labs, as well as graduate and undergraduate dorms. Each emerging quartet is presented in one formal recital at Campbell Recital Hall, an event that is free and open to the public. Beginning in 2013 the SLSQ and ESQP began presenting Azure Family Concerts, performing music programs for families with children and young adults on the Autism spectrum.
Watch this page for news about the spring 2023 Emerging String Quartet.
Make a gift to support the Emerging String Quartet Program.
Winter 2023
Dior Quartet
Joined together from Israel, Korea-Canada, Saint Lucia, and the USA, the Dior String Quartet is the Quartet-in-Residence at the Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Silver prize winners of the 2021 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition and Bronze Medalists of the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, they formed in Fall 2018 at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University under the tutelage of Pacifica Quartet. They studied with members of the Alban Berg, St. Lawrence, Danish, Artemis, Ébene, and Belcea Quartets.
The Dior Quartet participated in various programs, including the Britten-Pears Young Artists Program, Banff String Quartet: Evolution in collaboration with Tippet Rise Art Center, McGill International String Quartet Academy in Montreal, and the SLSQ Seminar. The Dior Quartet collaborated with Orion Weiss and Victor Yampolsky during their residency at Wintegreen Music Festival, and with Rolston String Quartet, Axel Strauss, and Stéphane Lemelin at the 2021 Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival.
The quartet made their debut with the Schneider Concert Series In January 2021 and were quarter-finalists in the 2021 Bartok World Competition in Budapest.
The repertoire and projects they pursue intersect with their multicultural backgrounds and moral values, as they seek to explore the immigrant experience through art. The quartet takes their name from the French word “D’or” which means gold. It's a rare, elegant, and malleable element, precious to those who own it and often gifted to loved ones. Most importantly, gold holds the memory of the earth and absorbs the stories of the people who give it shape and form.
Summary of ESQP Site Visits
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"Seeing the immediate impact that the music of Schubert, Beethoven, or even Golijov has on scientists from SLAC or the families at the Azure Concert heightens our understanding of the uniting power of this eternal music. We've come to realize as a result of our experience with the SLSQ and Stanford that we have a passion for reaching audiences, beyong those of the concert hall. Sharing our passion for our art form with those who might not otherwise have the chance to experience it, will be an integral part of our mission moving forward."
- The Calidore Quartet
Emerging Quartets 2009-2019
- Omer String Quartet, ESQP 2019
- Puck Quartet, ESQP Fall 2018
- Invoke, ESQP Spring 2018
- Tesla Quartet, ESQP 2017, John Lad Prize 2017
- Rolston String Quartet, ESQP 2017; John Lad Prize 2016
- Telegraph Quartet, ESQP 2016
- Calidore String Quartet, ESQP 2016 and 2014; John Lad Prize 2015
- Cecilia String Quartet, ESQP 2015 and 2010
- Friction Quartet, ESQP 2015
- Excelsa Quartet, ESQP 2014
- Aeolus Quartet, ESQP 2013
- Afiara Quartet, ESQP 2013, 2009
- Arneis Quartet, ESQP 2011
- Tokai Quartet, ESQP 2010
Sponsors
The Emerging String Quartet Program was funded with a generous seed grant from the Hewlett Foundation. The St. Lawrence String Quartet is sponsored by the Stanford Department of Music, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts, and the Friends of Music at Stanford, with special thanks to Peter and Helen Bing, Joan and Philip Leighton, and Persis Drell and James Welch.
See free events at Stanford on our Outreach page.
Donate to support the ESQP here.