Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

The Orford String Quartet was a Canadian classical music ensemble that was founded in 1965. The quartet was named after the small town of Orford, Quebec, where the group first performed. The founding members of the quartet were Andrew Dawes (violin), Terry Holowach (violin), Terence Helmer (viola), and Kenneth Perkins (cello). The Orford String Quartet quickly gained a reputation for their exceptional musicianship and their ability to perform a wide range of classical music repertoire. The quartet was known for their precise and nuanced performances, as well as their ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music they played. Over the course of their career, the Orford String Quartet performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and music festivals. They were regular performers at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada, and they also performed at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts, USA. One of the highlights of the Orford String Quartet's career was their performance at the White House in 1978. The quartet was invited to perform for President Jimmy Carter and his guests, and their performance was widely praised for its beauty and elegance. The Orford String Quartet also received numerous awards and accolades throughout their career. In 1971, they won the Grand Prix du Disque from the Académie Charles Cros in France for their recording of Beethoven's String Quartet No. 13. They also won the Juno Award for Best Classical Album in 1981 for their recording of Haydn's String Quartets Op. 20. In addition to their performances and recordings, the Orford String Quartet was also known for their dedication to music education. They were artists-in-residence at the University of Toronto from 1968 to 1991, where they taught master classes and mentored young musicians. Despite their success, the Orford String Quartet faced some challenges over the course of their career. In 1988, founding member Terry Holowach passed away, and the quartet struggled to find a replacement. They eventually recruited violinist Andrew Dawes' wife, Annalee Patipatanakoon, to join the group. The Orford String Quartet disbanded in 1991, after 26 years of performing together. Their final performance was at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, where they played Beethoven's String Quartet No. 15. Today, the Orford String Quartet is remembered as one of Canada's most important classical music ensembles. Their recordings continue to be celebrated for their technical excellence and emotional depth, and their legacy lives on through the many musicians they mentored and inspired over the course of their career.

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