Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Chamber

 

The Harlem Quartet is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2006. The group is made up of four musicians: Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White on violin, Jaime Amador on viola, and Felix Umansky on cello. The quartet is known for its unique blend of classical music with jazz, Latin, and contemporary styles. The quartet was formed when its members were students at the Sphinx Performance Academy, a program that supports young musicians of color. The group's name is a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that took place in the 1920s and 1930s in Harlem, New York City. The quartet's mission is to promote diversity in classical music and to inspire young musicians from underrepresented communities. Since its formation, the Harlem Quartet has performed at major venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Berlin Philharmonic. The quartet has also collaborated with many renowned musicians, such as Itzhak Perlman, Chick Corea, and Paquito D'Rivera. One of the quartet's most notable performances was at the White House in 2009, where they played for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The quartet has also performed at the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New York Philharmonic. The Harlem Quartet has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances and recordings. In 2013, the quartet won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for its recording of "Mozart Goes Dancing." The quartet has also been awarded the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, and the ASCAP Foundation's Leonard Bernstein Award. In addition to its performances, the Harlem Quartet is committed to music education and outreach. The quartet has conducted masterclasses and workshops at schools and universities around the world, and has also worked with organizations such as the Sphinx Organization and the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School. The Harlem Quartet's recordings include a wide range of classical and contemporary music, as well as original compositions by its members. The quartet's debut album, "Take the A Train," features works by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and other jazz composers. The quartet's most recent album, "Brahms: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2," was released in 2020 and features the quartet's interpretation of Brahms' string quartets. Overall, the Harlem Quartet has made a significant impact on the classical music world through its innovative performances, commitment to diversity and education, and its dedication to promoting classical music to new audiences. The quartet's unique blend of classical and contemporary styles has helped to expand the boundaries of classical music and to inspire a new generation of musicians.

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