TALENTED STRING MUSICIANS –
serving the Bay Area since 1970.
PACO’s Quartet Program has been an ongoing part of the organization
since 1970. Major focus on this program accounts for the high level
of professionalism and success musicians attain in their PACO
education and experience. This program also prepares our talented
young string players for PACO’s annual Chamber Music Workshop.
At this workshop, our young musicians experience the rewards and
challenges of intensive rehearsals within a string quartet or trio.
World-class professional musicians, which has included ensembles
such as the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, Ridge Quartet, Stanford
Quartet, Sunrise Quartet and the Jupiter Trio, PACO members are
sensitively trained on the finer points of quartet playing and
exposed to a wide range of repertoire.
After this intensive week, members establish quartets of their own
and continue to work with each other and experience new repertoire
throughout the season. String teachers and professional chamber
musicians from the entire Bay Area are made available for coaching
these PACO quartets during the year.
These extraordinarily talented groups have many avenues available to
them for performance. The most frequent outlet is through being
hired to perform for private engagements. Quartets have also
performed on special occasions for such notable individuals and
groups as Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, U.S. Ambassador to
Australia and China, the Premier Black & White Ball, CAPA Awards,
and the International Economics Convention in San Francisco. PACO
also sponsors master-class and recital opportunities for these
quartets each season. Our bi-annual William Whitson Memorial Fund
concerts feature these young ensembles in a lovely outdoor setting
in Palo Alto.
Members of these PACO ensembles view their performances as a
valuable learning experience and a musically satisfying event, which
creates a refreshing air of youth and vitality when they perform.
Numerous PACO quartets have gone on to compete nationally and
internationally and several have won major competitions. Countless
emeritus PACO musicians have been or currently are members of
professional ensembles, including duos, trios, string quartets and
many other small chamber ensembles.
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Requests for hiring a quartet can be made by contacting the PACO
Office at (650) 856-3848 or by email at paco-us@mindspring.com. Upon
receiving a request, a call is made to the various quartet groups
about their availability. When an available group is found, an
agreement form is sent out to the requestor requiring a return a
deposit of $25.00. The balance is due on the day of the event.
Current quartet (2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello) fees are as
follows:
$200 for the first hour or fraction thereof (includes deposit)
$80 for each additional HALF hour or fraction thereof
2-hour minimum if job require 25+ miles of traveling
Professionally trained PACO ensembles are available at reasonable rates to
perform at private parties, businesses, and formal occasions.
For more information please contact PACO office or contact us
online.
Thank you.
PACO quartet for hire.
Benjamin
Simon
"Benjamin Simon... has burnished the orchestra with a new precision and
elegance." San Mateo County Times
