Attacca Quartet is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2003 by four musicians who shared a passion for chamber music. The quartet is based in New York City and has gained a reputation for its innovative programming, virtuosic performances, and commitment to contemporary music. The founding members of Attacca Quartet are violinists Amy Schroeder and Keiko Tokunaga, violist Luke Fleming, and cellist Andrew Yee. All four musicians had studied at the Juilliard School in New York City and had performed extensively as soloists and chamber musicians before coming together to form the quartet. Attacca Quartet's name comes from the musical term "attacca," which means to play one movement of a piece of music immediately after the previous one, without a pause. This reflects the quartet's approach to music-making, which emphasizes the seamless flow of ideas and emotions between different pieces and movements. Since its founding, Attacca Quartet has performed at major concert halls and festivals around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Edinburgh Festival. The quartet has also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including pianist Simone Dinnerstein, composer John Adams, and singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. One of Attacca Quartet's most notable achievements was winning the prestigious Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in 2011. The quartet was the first American ensemble to win the competition, which is held every four years and attracts top chamber music groups from around the world. Attacca Quartet has also been recognized for its recordings, which have received critical acclaim and won several awards. The quartet's debut album, "20th Century Masters," was released in 2013 and featured works by Bartok, Ligeti, and Adams. The album was named one of the top classical recordings of the year by The New York Times and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2016, Attacca Quartet released its second album, "Mozart: String Quartets Dedicated to Haydn," which featured Mozart's six "Haydn" quartets. The album was praised for its "impeccable musicianship" and "deeply felt interpretations" by The Guardian and was named one of the best classical recordings of the year by NPR. Attacca Quartet's commitment to contemporary music is reflected in its collaborations with living composers and its programming of new works. The quartet has premiered works by composers such as Michael Ippolito, Caroline Shaw, and John Adams, and has commissioned new works from emerging composers through its "Recently Added" project. Attacca Quartet's dedication to music education and outreach is also an important part of its mission. The quartet has worked with students of all ages and backgrounds through its residencies and workshops, and has partnered with organizations such as the Sphinx Organization and the New York City Department of Education to bring music education to underserved communities. In summary, Attacca Quartet is a classical music ensemble that has gained a reputation for its innovative programming, virtuosic performances, and commitment to contemporary music. Founded in 2003 by four musicians who shared a passion for chamber music, the quartet has performed at major concert halls and festivals around the world, collaborated with a wide range of artists, and won several awards for its recordings.

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