Ancramdale, N.Y. — PUBLIQuartet will perform on Saturday, June 14, at 3 p.m., as part of Clarion Concerts’ annual benefit event held in a historic 18th-century barn in Ancramdale, N.Y. A reception with light bites and drinks will follow the performance.
You will be hard pressed to find another ensemble that calls itself “an improvising string quartet.” Such groups do exist, but they are far from the norm—and that is exactly what the New York-based PUBLIQuartet (PQ) is known for. Their way of playing has earned them awards and brought them to the Montreal, Newport, and Detroit jazz festivals, as well as on tour with jazz artists like Hiromi, Diane Monroe, and Magos Herrera. They also play more traditional classical music venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
PQ came to national attention in 2013 when they won the Concert Artists Guild’s New Music/New Places award, and again in 2019 with Chamber Music America’s Visionary Award, recognizing the group’s innovative approaches to contemporary classical, jazz, and world chamber music.
PQ practices something called “open-form improvisation,” a performance approach that treats structure flexibly, allowing players to make musical decisions spontaneously—in real time as a piece unfolds. This method of reimagining classical works has enabled the group to expand both the techniques and the aesthetic of the traditional string quartet.
It has also led to multiple GRAMMY nominations, most recently for “What Is American,” released on the Bright Shiny Things label. (Check out their roster.) The album takes inspiration from Dvořák’s “‘American’ String Quartet,” incorporating influences rooted in Black and Indigenous musical traditions—including blues, jazz, and rock. The album includes “CARDS 11-11-2020,” written by Roscoe Mitchell for PUBLIQuartet, as well as works by Ornette Coleman, Rhiannon Giddens, and Vijay Iyer.
It is no wonder the members of PQ are improvisers on their instruments, because two of them are composers and two regularly collaborate with prominent pop musicians the likes of Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Björk.
Violinist Curtis Stewart, a genre-blending violinist and educator, performs across classical, jazz, and hip-hop with PUBLIQuartet, The Mighty Third Rail, and artists like Wyclef Jean. He has performed as a soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra, in Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.
PQ founding violist Nick Revel composes, produces, and teaches. His solo work, featured on “Dream Collider” and major podcasts, has earned multiple awards. He co-founded the New York String Studio and leads education initiatives with Norwalk Youth Chamber Ensembles and Seabury Academy.
Cellist Hamilton Berry performs, arranges, and composes across genres with groups like PUBLIQuartet, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Founders. He teaches at the Sing Sing correctional facility through Musicambia and has collaborated with artists including Björk, Vampire Weekend, and Hiromi. He holds a master’s from Juilliard.
Violinist-arranger Jannina Norpoth debuted with the Detroit Symphony at the age of 14 and now works as a performer, arranger, and educator, collaborating with artists from Beyoncé to Regina Carter. A member of PUBLIQuartet and HOLLANDS, she is also a sought-after arranger in both classical and contemporary genres.
Most of Saturday’s program will consist of pieces from the group’s most recent GRAMMY-nominated album “What Is American: Rhythm Nation.”
Hear the PUBLIQuartet on Saturday, June 14, 3 p.m., at Clarion Concerts’ annual benefit event, held in a historic 18th-century barn in Ancramdale, N.Y. Purchase tickets here.
