“The group left the audience mesmorized by its resonant sound…”
The Collegiate Times
Commended for leaving audiences “mesmerized by its resonant sounds” (The Collegiate Times), the Julius Quartet has cultivated a distinguished voice since its formation in 2012. As passionate chamber musicians, the quartet strives to spread the values of chamber music to diverse communities in addition to presenting their unique expression within the music.
The quartet’s expressive personality has led to performances all over the North America in various venues such as Bing Concert Hall, Bargemusic, the Shalin Liu Performing Arts Center, The Moss Arts Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In February of 2019, the quartet collaborated with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and award-winning Texas composer Jesus Martinez in tribute to both the Museum’s thirtieth anniversary and the fifty-fifth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, performing a newly commissioned work “The Sixth Floor” - a stirring journey from the darkest days of 1963 to a deeper understanding of the enduring legacy of President Kennedy and what lies beyond.
Cherishing the collaborative essence of chamber music, the group has shared in numerous collaborations with celebrated artists such as Andres Cardenes, Aaron Boyd, members of the St. Lawrence, Shanghai, Escher and Lydian Quartets in addition to composers Steven Mackey, Louis Andriessen, Dan Tepfer, Jesper Koch, and Jesus J. Martinez. The group has been featured repeatedly in the Music from Salem festival, where they have collaborated with artists and directors Rhonda Rider, Lila Brown and Judith Gordon. Keeping an active performance schedule during the summer, the quartet has participated in numerous summer festivals such as the St. Lawrence String Quartet Seminar, McGill International String Quartet Academy, the Chamber Music Residency at The BANFF Centre, and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.
Settled in Dallas, the quartet’s commitment to sharing the principles of chamber music through outreach events and educational workshops has impacted both local communities and audiences nationwide. From the onset of the ensemble’s formation, the group sought to engage with community organizations, such as the “Bridging the Gap” organization in Worcester, MA- a program for youth at risk associated with The Salvation Army. Other educational residencies include serving as guest Artists in Residence with the MacPhail Center for Music this past Fall, conducting educational workshops throughout the Twin Cities, and the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series, enriching the Quad City region through performance workshops and interactive sessions that reached over 2,000 people across the region.
In the Spring of 2020, the quartet and Texas composer Jesus J. Martinez founded Emerge Coalition Inc (EMERGE ): a performing arts non profit based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. With a mission to foster, develop and engage in the arts community, EMERGE held is first season of the EMERGE Virtual Workshop & Performances: A 3-day, new music reading laboratory and concert webinar hosting daily reading sessions, masterclasses, and in depth discussions regarding the changing climate of professional music. Culminating in digitally live streamed performances, the EMERGE workshop hosted composers from around the world and premiered 31 new works that were live-streamed to audiences across 5 continents. More can be learned about EMERGE at www.emergeci.org
The quartet has given masterclasses for numerous youth music programs, such as the Empire State Youth Symphony String Festival, the Newark School of the Arts, the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Harrison Arts Center. Moreover, they have also been featured as guest artists at some of the country's most prestigious institutions, including the University of South Florida and Virginia Tech University. Furthermore, the group served as Assistant Chamber Music Coaches as part of the Peak Fellowship at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.
Swiftly rising to critical acclaim, the group was awarded First Prize at the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, First Prize at the first annual MA-ASTA String Quartet/Quintet Competition by unanimous vote, and was nominated for the Harvard Musical Association’s Arthur Foote Award. The quartet served as the Peak Fellowship Ensemble-in-Residence at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University from 2017-2020, receiving close mentorship from violinist Aaron Boyd, Director of Chamber Music at SMU, and members of the Escher String Quartet. Prior to this appointment, the quartet served as the Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, where they worked intensely with the celebrated Shanghai Quartet. Oher primary mentors and influences include Rhonda Rider, Mark Steinberg, and Lila Brown. Furthermore, the group has worked with various esteemed chamber musicians such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Michael Tree, Gerhard Schulz, Mathias Tacke, Harald Schoneweg, Joseph Silverstein, and members of the Juilliard, Emerson, St. Lawrence, American, Tokyo, Miro, Chilingarian, Ying and Latino Americano.
