Reimagining The
Lake Shore Quartet
Juliette Kang, violin; Salley Koo, violin; Kirsten Johnson, viola;
Amy Sue Barston, cello
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Strum
FANNY MENDELSSOHN HENSEL: String Quartet in E-flat Major
GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ: String Quartet No. 4
In 1990, four teens formed The Lake Shore String Quartet as part of their musical studies in Chicago. Together, they won the highest American honor for a young string quartet: First Place and the Audience Prize at The Fischoff National Competition, the largest of its kind. One of their striking performances, recorded for broadcast, is now available to hear on YouTube, and it offers a powerful glimpse at the early artistry of four people who would go on to become world-class professionals: Amy Barston (cello) and Salley Koo (violin) became sought-after performers and faculty at major conservatories, Jennifer Koh a GRAMMY-winning violin soloist, and Kirsten Johnson associate principal viola for The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Thirty-three years later, this quartet (now with associate concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra Juliette Kang replacing Koh as first violin) reunites at the Park Avenue Community Center as part of the Park Avenue Concerts series. The music they will perform celebrates three women-composers whose contributions span almost 200 years: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Grażyna Bacewicz, and Jessie Montgomery.