Morrison Artists Series: Verona Quartet

Sunday, December 3, 2017, 3:00 pm
Photo of the Verona Quartet standing in a hallway
Hailed by The New York Times as an "outstanding ensemble of young musicians," the Verona Quartet won top prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet, Concert Artists Guild, Melbourne International Chamber Music and eighth Osaka International Chamber Music competitions. In just three years, the ensemble has earned a stellar reputation for delivering a "sensational, powerhouse performance" (Classical Voice America) every time it takes the stage. Pre-concert talk: 2pm. Master class: December 4, noon, Creative Arts Building, Room 153. Free.
Location: 
Creative Arts Building, McKenna Theatre
Directions: 
Sponsor: 
May T. Morrison Chamber Music Center
Contact: 
SF State Box Office
Phone: 
415-338-2467
Event extras: 

“Outstanding ensemble of young musicians. ... Cohesive yet full of temperament ... vibrant, intelligent.” — The New York Times

Verona Quartet

  • Jonathan Ong, violin
  • Dorothy Ro, violin
  • Abigail Rojansky, viola
  • Warren Hagerty, cello

In the United States, the Verona Quartet has won the Coleman, Fischoff and Chesapeake Chamber Music competitions. Musical America selected the quartet as New Artist of the Month for May 2016. The Verona Quartet served as The Juilliard School’s graduate resident string quartet for two years, through May 2017.

The Verona Quartet has performed across four continents in venues such as Wigmore Hall (London), Izumi Hall (Osaka, Japan), the National Theatre (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Melbourne Recital Hall (Australia) and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.). It has also appeared on National Public Radio, PBS’ The Weekly Special and Abu Dhabi Classical FM.

At the 2015 Concert Artists Guild Competition, the Verona Quartet also won the BMI Commissioning Prize, resulting in a new work by American composer Michael Gilbertson premiered at the ensemble’s February 2017 Weill Hall concert.

Program

  • Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809): Quartet No. 36 in B-flat major, Op. 50, No. 1, Hob. III/44 (1787)
  • Sebastian Currier (1959 – ): Etude 2: Interactions and Lullaby 1: Pulsing (2016)
  • Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897): String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2 (1873)

Photo by Joseph Ong/Brittany Florenz

Video