The Art of Collaboration and Interpretation: String Quartet Playing in the 21st Century with guest artist Peter Salaff, founding member of The Cleveland Quartet

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021
1:00-5:00 PM Eastern Time

ABOUT IQS:

The Cavani Quartet is excited to present a reimagined virtual version of their widely celebrated Intensive Quartet Seminar.

The Virtual IQS will be presented in a performance class format and is designed to deepen musical interpretation and connection to the score, with special emphasis placed on fostering a collaborative and empathetic environment.

Four spectacular quartets from colleges and conservatories around the country have been invited to participate. Each participating quartet will perform one movement of a polished work or work-in progress followed by comments and feedback by the Cavani Quartet and Mr. Salaff. We will apply a few of the capstone Cavani rehearsal techniques that empower a team-work atmosphere and cultivate a deeper interpretive process. Included in the seminar schedule is the opportunity for a conversation with the brilliant Peter Salaff about his legacy with the Cleveland Quartet, chamber music rehearsal techniques, and other nerdy music topics.

This is a unique opportunity for ensembles around the country to gather, create a new community and support each other.

Virtual IQS is open to all audiences, students, educators, and professionals are welcome to attend. Please join us to observe this special event and support the future of string quartet playing.

“I am really lucky to have had incredible mentors in my life and the Cavani Quartet are of the most important. Through their chamber music program, they gave me invaluable musical training and tools, but they also fostered a familial environment of excellence and generosity. I still rely on many of the wonderful techniques I learned from them including left hand coordination, breathing and movement exercises, and Shakespearean counting. My Quartet has adopted these as great teaching tools and share them when we teach and collaborate. The Cavani Quartet is the reason I have a career in chamber music today.”

From former IQS participant Karla Donehew, Catalyst Quartet

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

DORRINGTON QUARTET- Rice University, Shepard School of Music, Houston, TX.
Allison Smith and Connor Chaikowsky, violins
Lauren Ross, viola
Nicholas Perkyns, cello

ZORÁ QUARTET – Montclair State University, N.J. (www.zoraquartet.com)
Dechopol Kowinaweewat and Haruno Sato, violins
Julian Sawhill, viola
Zizai Ning, cello

BROOKSIDE QUARTET. -University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Bronwyn James and Will Thain, violin
James Cunningham, viola
Helen LaGrand, cello

PHILO QUARTET- Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH.
Matthew Cone and Makaela Foerderer, violins
Jasper De Boor, viola
Nathaniel Abreu, cello

IQS HISTORY:

The Intensive Quartet Seminar (IQS) was inaugurated by the Cavani String Quartet during their 30 year tenure as string quartet-in-residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music and became a vibrant and integral part of the world-renowned chamber music curriculum curated by the Cavani Quartet. Each semester six string quartets were invited to participate and study themed repertoire such as the six Bartôk Quartets or the Six Opus 18 Quartets of Beethoven, culminating in a Gala performance of the entire work. Over the course of each semester IQS participants were also offered the opportunity to perform in master classes presented by renowned guest teaching -artists such as members of the Juilliard, Takàcs, Tokyo and Guarneri Quartets. IQS is designed to focus on musical interpretation and performance with special emphasis placed on fostering a deeply collaborative and empathetic environment. Fundamental to this approach is the application of specific ensemble rehearsal techniques developed by the Cavani Quartet and Peter Salaff (Cleveland Quartet) and the humble devotion to the art of superlative chamber music playing.

Former IQS participants are linked throughout the solo, chamber music, and orchestral world. Former IQS participants include members of the Aeolus, Afiara, Biava, Callisto, Catalyst, Daedalus, Dali, Ehnes, Harlem, Linden, Jupiter, Maia, Miró, Omer, Pacifica, Skyros, Telegraph, String Quartets as well as members of the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, A Far Cry, ECCO, and Toronto Symphony.

This Seminar is free to attend, with a recommended donation of $10 USD.
Everyone is welcome regardless of financial circumstances.

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