Dover Quartet

Dover Quartet
Background information
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Genres	Classical Music
Years active	2008-present
Labels	Cedille Records, Azica Records
Website	https://www.doverquartet.com/
Members	Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt Camden Shaw Joel Link Bryan Lee

The Dover Quartet is an American string quartet. It was formed at the Curtis Institute of Music in 2008^[1] and its members are graduates of both the Curtis Institute of Music and the Rice University Shepherd School of Music.^[2] Its name is taken from the piece Dover Beach by Samuel Barber.^[3] The quartet consists of violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee, violist Milena Pajaro-Van de Stadt, and cellist Camden Shaw.^[2][3] In 2020, the quartet was appointed to the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music as ensemble-in-residence.^[2][1] Their faculty residency integrates teaching and mentorship, the quartet’s artist management, and the creation of digital content, all fostered at Curtis in a holistic way. Additionally, they hold residencies with the Kennedy Center, Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, Artosphere, and the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.^[3]

The Dover Quartet has collaborated with artists such as Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnaton, Ray Chen, the Escher Quartet, Edgar Meyer, Anthony McGill, the late Peter Serkin, and Roomful of Teeth. Equally comfortable with repertoire from a range of eras, the quartet has worked with some of the world’s foremost living composers, premiering works by composers such as Caroline Shaw and Mason Bates.

Discography[]

The Dover Quartet’s The Schumann Quartets album (Azica Records) is nominated for a 2021 GRAMMY® Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

The Dover Quartet has released three albums on Cedille Records: Tribute: Dover Quartet Plays Mozart, Voices of Defiance, and Beethoven Complete String Quartets, Volume 1 – The Opus 18 Quartets. Volumes 2 and 3 of the Beethoven Complete String Quartets are anticipated to be released in 2021 and 2022.^[4]

Awards[]

Hailed as “the next Guarneri Quartet” (Chicago Tribune) and “the young American string quartet of the moment,” (New Yorker), the Dover Quartet catapulted to international stardom in 2013, following a stunning sweep of all prizes at the Banff International String Quartet Competition. Among the group’s honors are the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award, and Lincoln Center’s Hunt Family Award. The Dover Quartet has also won top prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. The quartet was nominated for the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for their recording of Robert Schumann's string quartets.

References[]