The New Orford String Quartet is a Canadian classical music ensemble that was founded in 2009. The quartet is made up of four members, all of whom are accomplished musicians in their own right. The members of the quartet are Jonathan Crow (violin), Andrew Wan (violin), Eric Nowlin (viola), and Brian Manker (cello). The quartet was formed with the goal of continuing the tradition of great Canadian string quartets. The quartet takes its name from the Orford Arts Centre in Quebec, where the members first played together. The quartet has since gone on to perform at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Wigmore Hall in London. Jonathan Crow is the first violinist of the quartet. He is also the concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Crow has won numerous awards for his playing, including the Canada Council for the Arts’ Virginia Parker Prize and the Canada Council for the Arts’ Career Development Grant. He has also performed as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Andrew Wan is the second violinist of the quartet. He is also the concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Wan has won numerous awards for his playing, including the Canada Council for the Arts’ Virginia Parker Prize and the Canada Council for the Arts’ Career Development Grant. He has also performed as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Eric Nowlin is the violist of the quartet. He is also the principal violist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Nowlin has won numerous awards for his playing, including the Canada Council for the Arts’ Virginia Parker Prize and the Canada Council for the Arts’ Career Development Grant. He has also performed as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Brian Manker is the cellist of the quartet. He is also the principal cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Manker has won numerous awards for his playing, including the Canada Council for the Arts’ Virginia Parker Prize and the Canada Council for the Arts’ Career Development Grant. He has also performed as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. The New Orford String Quartet has performed at many of the world’s leading music festivals, including the Ottawa Chamberfest, the Festival de Lanaudière, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. The quartet has also performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The quartet has also won numerous awards for its playing. In 2011, the quartet won the Prix Opus for Concert of the Year – Montreal for its performance of Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131. In 2012, the quartet won the Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for its recording of the complete Beethoven string quartets. The New Orford String Quartet has also recorded several other albums, including a recording of the complete string quartets of Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer. The quartet has also recorded works by other Canadian composers, including John Burge and Alexina Louie. In addition to its performances and recordings, the New Orford String Quartet is also committed to music education. The quartet has given masterclasses and workshops at many universities and music schools, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the Juilliard School.

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