Luri Lee - Violin
Jeffrey Dyrda - Violin
Hezekiah Leung - Viola
Jonathan Lo - Cello
The 2016 First Prize winner of the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Rolston String Quartet was named among the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 2016 “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.” The Calgary Herald says they “played affectionately, shifted colours with the mood of every phrase, and showed a caramel blend in tone that only makes you want to hear more.” A winner of Astral’s 2016 National Auditions and the 2016 John Lad Prize, the quartet was also the Grand Prize winner of the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition and a prizewinner at the inaugural M-Prize competition and the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition.
The Rolston String Quartet has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appearing in such venues as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Koerner Hall at the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Auditorium de Bordeaux. Formerly the Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, the Rolstons also participated in residencies and fellowships at the Académie musicale de Villecroze, Aspen Music Festival, Banff Centre, McGill International String Quartet Academy, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute, and the Yehudi Menuhin Chamber Music Festival. The quartet has recently been named the new fellowship Quartet-in-Residence at the Yale School of Music and will begin their tenure this fall. While at Yale, the quartet will work closely with the Brentano String Quartet — YSM’s quartet-in-residence — perform recitals, and participate in education-outreach programs.
Notable collaborations include performances with renowned artists Andrés Díaz, Gilbert Kalish, Cho-Liang Lin, Mark Morris, Donald Palma, Jon Kimura Parker, Barry Shiffman, and Miguel da Silva. Additionally, they have worked with composers John Luther Adams and Brian Current. Mentored primarily by James Dunham, Norman Fischer, and Kenneth Goldsmith, the quartet has received additional guidance from Steven Dann, Paul Kantor, Barry Shiffman, Miguel da Silva, Mark Steinberg, and Alastair Tait.
The Rolston String Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s Chamber Music Residency. The ensemble takes its name from Canadian violinist Thomas Rolston, founder and longtime director of the Music and Sound Programs at the Banff Centre.
Website: www.rolstonstringquartet.com/