Quartet Fest West 2024

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JUNE 24-JULY 5, 2024

Come to Quartet Fest West, an exciting and fulfilling Chamber Music Experience on the beautiful campus of the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC, CANADA.

2024 Faculty include:


Lafayette String Quartet: Ann Elliott-Goldschmid and Sharon Stanis, violins; Joanna Hood, viola; and Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, cello

GUEST ARTISTS:
Jasper String Quartet: 
J Freivogel and Karen Kim; violins, Andrew Gonzales, viola; and Rachel Henderson Freivogel, cello

“flawless in ensemble and intonation, expressively assured and beautifully balanced.”— Gramophone

Jasper String Quartet


Quartet Fest West is thrilled to welcome the Jasper String Quartet.

Celebrating its eighteenth season in 2024, the Jasper String Quartet is hailed as “flawless in ensemble and intonation, expressively assured and beautifully balanced” (Gramophone). The Quartet’s  “programming savvy” (clevelandclassical.com) evocatively connects the music of underrepresented and living composers to the canonical repertoire in thought-provoking programs.

A recipient of Chamber Music America’s prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, the Quartet’s playing is “sonically delightful and expressively compelling” (The Strad). The ensemble has released eight albums, including Unbound, named by the New York Times as one of the year’s 25 Best Classical Recordings.

The Jasper String Quartet is the Founder and Artistic Director of Jasper Chamber Concerts the Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Music Institute, and the Professional Quartet-in-Residence at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians.

Victoria audiences will remember Vivian Fung’s Fifth Quartet “Spiraling” commissioned by the LSQ. The Jasper String Quartet has performed and recorded her quartets 1-4 for the Sono Luminus label as well as Reinaldo Moya’s Pájaros Garabatos with soprano Maria Brea. Critics praise the Quartet’s recordings as “artistically nuanced, executed with gorgeous technique and plenty of personality” (Music City Review).

The Jasper Quartet also continues in its eighth season as Artistic Director of Jasper Chamber Concerts, a series founded by the Quartet and dedicated to encouraging curiosity, community, and inclusivity through world-class chamber music performances.

QUARTET FEST WEST PARTICIPANTS:

  • -receive daily coachings and masterclasses
  • -receive one-on-one consultations on their individual chamber music parts in private lessons
  • -perform in concerts
  • -enjoy chamber music parties with faculty and local musicians
  • -gain insights in listening skills, as well as body awareness and movement through Feldenkrais workshops
  • -explore Victoria with fun outings.
  • -AND A LOT MORE!

A limited number of pianists are welcome to apply to QFW as well as other single “chamber” instruments (such as clarinet or flute). Pre-formed quartets or quintets with other instrumental combinations (such as saxophone or guitar quartets, or brass or woodwind quintets) are also welcome to apply.

Students and visitors are welcome to stay on campus in University Housing. This is very reasonably priced and is an additional cost to tuition.

If you are applying as a pre-formed group, have one member only submit two complete and contrasting movements that best represent the group’s playing* and include them in their application. The other members can leave the audio portion of their application blank.

*These movements can be from the same work i.e. a slow movement and a fast movement. They can also be from two different composers. 

UVIC Housing and Food: Housing costs will be posted soon.

Wrist bands available for meals.

*Students 18 years of age or under who are staying in residence must be chaperoned. QFW will supply a chaperone, however extra fees apply.

Please fill out the application form. Application deadline is April 30th.

Tuition: $900 

Scholarships available.