Photo by Ryan ScherbThrough creative and interactive programming, as well as a deep commitment to audience inclusion, PUBLIQuartet injects fresh perspective into the Classical music scene. Hailing from the Mannes College of Music, and the Eastman School of Music, the members of PUBLIQuartet contribute a collective background in classical, jazz, world and electro acoustic performance. They present standard and rare music from the classical repertoire, as well as contemporary compositions and open-form improvisations that expand, explore and extend the stylistic norms of the traditional string quartet.
Formed in Spring 2010, PUBLIQuartet aims to present the contemporary voices of New York City. With a focus on newly composed works by New York City’s emerging as well as established composers, PUBLIQuartet performs in a variety of venues from Lincoln Center, to homes, cafes and community spaces. PUBLIQuartet has been presented by The American Composers Orchestra, Queens College, Music of Now Marathon, Turtle Bay Music School, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, Cirlcles and Lines and the Ridotto Concert Series. They have collaborated with members of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), New York City’s new-wave staple Lev ‘Ljova’ Zurbin, and internationally acclaimed pianist Aksel Kolstad. They can be heard in soundtrack for the upcoming film installation, THRU|LINES, featuring 24 New Yorkers in 24 hours on 24 screens. PUBLIQuartet has been in residence at the Juilliard String Quartet Institute, Deer Valley Music Festival's "Emerging Quartets and Composers" program in Utah, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute, and most recently the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. They have worked with members of the Muir, Juilliard, Orion, Mendelssohn, Tokyo, American, and Brentano String Quartets, as well as acclaimed composers Joan Tower and Butch Morris. Their music has been heard on WQXR, KRZA Radio in Colorado, and Kinetics Radio.
PUBLIQuartet’s strength is found in its ability to connect with listeners, bridging the performer-listener gap through audience dialogue and involvement. PQ were featured artists for the Socrates Sculpture Park's annual Gala, supporting their endeavor to encourage “strong interaction between artists, artworks and the public.” Their new concert series, MIND|THE|GAP, explores ways to connect old and new music by bridging musical content through improvisation. Current and upcoming projects include further exploration into their MIND|THE|GAP concert series and the inaugural emerging composers competition, PUBLIQ Access.