Quartet-in-Residence Program 2026-27

Upcoming 2026-27 Program Events

This year's quartet: The Fry Street Quartet

This exceptional quartet – praised as "a triumph of ensemble playing" by The New York Times – is a dynamic group leading chamber music into innovative directions. Performing both the masterpieces of the classical canon and bold new works from visionary contemporary composers, the Fry Street Quartet has honed a "blend of technical precision and scorching spontaneity" (The Strad). Since claiming the Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the ensemble has captivated audiences worldwide, from Carnegie Hall to London, Sarajevo, and Jerusalem, pushing the boundaries of the string quartet with "profound understanding...depth of expression, and stunning technical astuteness" (Deseret Morning News).

With a diverse discography featuring works by Haydn, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Janáček, and Rorem, the quartet is known for being "equally at home in the classic repertoire of Mozart and Beethoven or contemporary music" (Palm Beach Daily News). Recordings include The Crossroads Project, released on Navona Records, showcasing commissioned works by Laura Kaminsky and Libby Larsen, as well as Kaminsky’s acclaimed chamber opera As One, released on Albany Records. Canções da America, composed for the FSQ by Clarice Assad, was released in video format by Chicago’s innovative Guarneri Hall in 2023.

The Fry Street Quartet’s touring repertoire spans the musical spectrum, featuring works by Britten, Schubert, Beethoven, and Bartók alongside contemporary compositions. Notably, the complete quartets of Béla Bartók have been central to their programming, with complete cycles performed as part of Salt Lake City’s NOVA series and at Utah State University’s Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall. The quartet premiered and workshopped Kaminsky’s As One with soprano Sasha Cooke and baritone Kelly Markgraf at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and has since performed the work with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Chautauqua Opera. In 2026-27, the FSQ will present all of Beethoven’s late quartets.

The Fry Street Quartet has amassed a significant catalog of commissioned works by diverse composers. The current season features several new works written for the ensemble, including Laura Kaminsky’s Arboreal for string quartet, Aida Shirazi’s They Need to Remember for treble voice and string quartet, Akshaya Tucker’s Night Fire for tenor and string quartet, and a new work by Hitomi Oba, all contributing to the quartet’s growing collection of compositions inspired by sustainability and nature. Last season’s commissions included Gabriela Lena Frank’s A Psalm of Disquiet and Nicolás Lell Benavides’ Lek, a piece for string quartet and electronics that incorporates the mating sounds of sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, highlighting the plight of this threatened western bird. Kaminsky’s Rising Tide and Larsen’s Emergence were both commissioned for the quartet’s global sustainability initiative, The Crossroads Project.

With more than 60 performances across three countries, Rising Tide: The Crossroads Project continues to engage audiences in addressing sustainability challenges through a compelling blend of art and science. This innovative approach has been featured on NPR’s Joe’s Big Idea (aired during All Things Considered), as well as by Yale Climate Connections, Reuters, and The New York Times. After more than a decade with this project, the FSQ remains deeply committed to initiatives that promote sustainability, using their platform to raise awareness and drive change. Their Climate Commitment includes thought leadership, advocacy, and collaboration with institutions to implement sustainable practices.

The quartet’s touring history includes appearances at prestigious venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, The New School, and Rockefeller University in New York, Guarneri Hall and the Jewel Box Series in Chicago, Chamber Music Columbus, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, The Theosophical Society in London, the Mozart Gemeinde in Klagenfurt, Austria, and China’s Fujian Grand Theatre, Xiaoshan Grand Theatre, and Shanghai Oriental Art Center. They also enjoy an ongoing residency with the NOVA series, where they serve as Artistic Partners and Quartet-in-Residence.

The Fry Street Quartet performs on a rare collection of Italian instruments on loan from a private foundation, including violins by J.B. Guadagnini and Pietro Giacomo Rogeri, a viola by Giovanni Battista Rogeri, and a cello by Andrea Guarneri. The quartet holds the Dan C. and Manon Caine Russell Endowed String Quartet Residency at Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts.

frystreetquartet.com