String Quartet

The Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet Program prepares a new generation of chamber music leaders.

The Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet Program is open to young quartets of extraordinary promise, formed for at least one year at the time of their audition. Closely mentored by Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence, the Dover Quartet, the ensemble performs two recitals annually and masterclasses for guest quartets and other visiting artists. Quartet members participate in concerts of contemporary music with Curtis’s Ensemble 20/21 and have the chance to perform in locations around the globe with Curtis on Tour.

 

Overview

The quartet also participates in Curtis’s Community Artists Program, designing and implementing a unique performance project that combines artistry with invention, leadership with advocacy, and citizenship with community. As mentoring is an important dimension of the quartet program, quartet members coach and perform with students who are part of the Young Artists Initiative (those of high school age and younger).

The quartet program was established in 2013 and has graduated ensembles that are pursuing fast-rising and global careers, including the Dover, Aizuri, and Viano quartets. Accolades include Grammy Award nominations, the Avery Fisher Career Grant, top prizes from the M Prize Competition and Astral Artist’s National Auditions, and recognition in the New York Times, among others.

 

Curtis is grateful to the donors who provided generous funding to pilot the school’s string quartet program: Henry Arnhold, Nina Baroness von Maltzahn, Bob and Gina Mundheim, and Phil and Eli Taylor.

String Quartet Faculty

  • String Quartet Curriculum

    Degree programs available within the string quartet department include the following.

    • Post-Baccalaureate Diploma

    Learn more about the curriculum comprising the string quartet department.

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  • String Quartet Audition Requirements

    Auditions for entry in fall 2025 will take place in February and March of 2025. Audition dates will be posted by October 2024.

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Student Performances