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Ensemble

 

The Formosa Quartet is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2002. The quartet is made up of four members: Jasmine Lin (violin), Wayne Lee (violin), Che-Yen Chen (viola), and Deborah Pae (cello). The ensemble has gained international recognition for their performances and recordings of classical music. The Formosa Quartet was founded in Los Angeles, California, by Jasmine Lin and Wayne Lee. The two violinists had previously played together in the Pacifica Quartet, and they decided to form their own ensemble. They were joined by Che-Yen Chen, a violist who had previously played with the Tokyo String Quartet, and Deborah Pae, a cellist who had played with the New York Philharmonic. The quartet takes its name from the island of Taiwan, which was formerly known as Formosa. The members of the ensemble are all of Taiwanese descent, and they wanted to pay tribute to their heritage through their music. The Formosa Quartet has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. They have also performed at music festivals around the world, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the Seoul Spring Festival. One of the highlights of the Formosa Quartet's career was their performance at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. The festival celebrated the culture of Taiwan, and the quartet was invited to perform as part of the event. They played a program of Taiwanese folk songs and classical music, and their performance was well-received by the audience. The Formosa Quartet has also been recognized for their recordings of classical music. Their debut album, "From Hungary to Taiwan," was released in 2008 and featured works by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók and Taiwanese composer Gordon Shi-Wen Chin. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Chamber Music Performance category. In 2012, the Formosa Quartet released their second album, "The Debussy Quartet and Ravel Quartet." The album featured two of the most famous string quartets in the classical repertoire, and it was praised for the quartet's sensitive and nuanced interpretation of the music. The Formosa Quartet has also been recognized for their commitment to education and outreach. They have conducted masterclasses and workshops at universities and music schools around the world, and they have worked with young musicians through programs such as the National Youth Orchestra of Taiwan. In 2017, the Formosa Quartet was awarded the Taiwan Presidential Culture Award, which is the highest honor given to artists and cultural organizations in Taiwan. The award recognized the quartet's contributions to the promotion of Taiwanese culture and music around the world. The Formosa Quartet continues to perform and record classical music, and they remain committed to promoting Taiwanese culture through their music. They are widely regarded as one of the finest string quartets in the world, and their performances and recordings have earned them a devoted following among classical music fans.

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