Ulysses Quartet, Quartet

Biography

Hailing from Prince Edward Island, California, Pennsylvania, and Taiwan, the Ulysses Quartet was founded in the summer of 2015. They are the 2016 String Division Gold Medalists and Grand Prize Winners of the Fischoff Competition. Members have performed in prestigious halls such as Esterházy Palace, Carnegie Hall, and the Taiwan National Concert Hall. Their exciting first season together has included concertizing with the Halcyon, Listen Closely and Massivemuse Series. Ulysses Quartet has a partnership with Groupmuse and headlines their major concerts. Members perform on instruments and bows graciously on loan from the Canada Council of the Arts Instrument Bank and the Maestro Foundation.

The name ‘Ulysses’ pays homage to Homer’s hero Odysseus and his ten year voyage home. Additionally, the quartet’s base in Washington Heights, New York, lies in close proximity to the resting place of former U.S. president, Ulysses S. Grant.

Christina, Rhiannon, and Colin met at Kneisel Hall School of Music in Blue Hill, Maine. A desire to continue playing together led to the founding of the quartet as their paths converged with Grace’s in New York City.  Along with active chamber music careers, Ulysses members hold principal positions with groups such as the Cape Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra, Shattered Glass, International Chamber Players, and in Broadway orchestras.  They received degrees from prestigious schools including the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and Yale University.  Members of the Ulysses Quartet are working towards their Doctorate of Musical Arts Degrees at Stony Brook University, the City University of New York and Manhattan School of Music.

The Ulysses Quartet believes intensely in the power of music to inspire, enlighten, and bring people together.  They are committed to sharing this passion by increasing access and appreciation for classical music while enhancing audience engagement. To this end, the quartet offers interactive programs and workshops for all ages that demystify traditional repertoire while introducing new and exciting works. Their programs invite participants to learn about the inner workings of the string quartet, and explore connections that music makes with our world today, through the rich history of its creation.