Formosa quartet returns to the Upper West Side with a recital at Opus 71 Concerts (Artistically directed by our very own Matthew Cohen) with our blueish groove set and Wynton Marsalis’s String Quartet No. 1.

Continuing our streak of bringing new string quartet works to life, we will be spending an afternoon reading and workshopping with the talented young composers at Western Washington University.

The first stop on our tour of the Pacific Northwest is at Astoria’s historic Liberty Theatre. It was initially built in 1925, so we are thrilled to be taking part in its 100th birthday celebration!

For this occasion we will be performing Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2 and the WORLD PREMIERE of Angelique Poteat’s A Quartet of Trees .

Formosa Quartet’s Matthew Cohen leads a masterclass/guided tour through the wide wide (and ever expanding) world of music for solo viola. The combination of Matt’s heroic and virtuosic mission to annex both the violin and cello repertoires and the fearlessness of Moores’s violists will guarantee the flying of sparks.

Don’t miss our very own Debbie Pae working with the mighty UH cellists in plumbing truth from the depths of the music, and depth of tone from the uniquely sonorous violoncello.

Join Jasmine, David and University of Houston students for a deep dive into the violin repertoire. In this two hour masterclass, we will explore the musical nooks and crannies, confront the technical ins and outs, and turn over all of the metaphorical stones.

To strengthen the musical explorations at NYO, Formosa Quartet is partnering with Xenia Concerts in a special workshop and performance addressing the interpersonal skills, atmosphere of inclusivity, and attention to mental health that form the foundation of a successful collaboration.

For more info on Xenia Concerts, visit https://xeniaconcerts.com/

For our recital at NYO, we are excited to debut a playlist of music by Bach, Britten, and favorites written by and for the Formosa Quartet. Kurtág’s work …rapell des oiseaux… will be recalling the recently crowned official bird of Kitchener-Waterloo, the Dark Eyed Junco.

PROGRAM:

Bach - Contrapunctus I

Britten - String quartet No. 1 in D major

Bach - Contrapunctus III

Cage - “Funeral Anthem” from Apartment House 1776 

Cherokee Shuffle (Arr. FQ/Ben Russell)

Lin - Red pick 

Lin - Story 

Kurtág - …rappel des oiseaux… from Moment Musicaux

Lafourcade - Nunca es Suficiente (arr. Clancy Newman)

Bach - Contrapunctus IX 

Seidenberg- Bach’s Lunch 

PROGRAM:

Prokofiev: Quintet in G minor, Op. 39

A Formosa Quartet Set

Join us for an interactive family program at the historic Liberty Hall at Kean University. Music of Schubert and Shostakovich will feel youthful wafting between 250 year old walls, intermingling with a rich history stretching back to the American Revolution.

For the culmination of our week at UH, we will present a recital at Dudley Recital Hall featuring Schubert Rosamunde and an exciting collaboration with Moores School of Music faculty, Bass-Baritone Timothy Jones.

P.D.Q Bach - A Little Nightmare Music

A Formosa Set*

Schubert - String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D 804 “Rosamunde”

Don’t miss our very own Debbie Pae working with the mighty UH cellists in plumbing truth from the depths of the music, and depth of tone from the uniquely sonorous violoncello.

Formosa Quartet’s Matthew Cohen leads a masterclass/guided tour through the wide wide (and ever expanding) world of music for solo viola. The combination of Matt’s heroic and virtuosic mission to annex both the violin and cello repertoires and the fearlessness of Moores’s violists will guarantee the flying of sparks.