Serafin String Quartet

Purchase CD

Quartet Long Bio Quartet Short Bio Artists Bios Critical Acclaim

Reviews In The News Higdon Recording Project Details Current Season Overview Press Releases

Blog Twitter Flickr Facebook

Click here to download this bio in PDF format

Hailed by The Strad Magazine (2010) for "playing with style and sophistication" and the American Record Guide (2011) for "combining true rhythmic precision, beautiful intonation, and beautiful articulation with an excellent sense of balance and deeply satisfying musical phrasing," Serafin String Quartet debuted to a sell-out crowd at New York City's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2004. The Quartet has consistently received superlatives in the press and ovations in the concert hall. New York Concert Review has lauded the quartet for "ensemble and intonation ... above reproach," and described their Puccini as "suave and stylish!" their Debussy as "a shapely, finely conceived account" and their Haydn as having "rhythmic vitality and taut ensemble..."

Centaur Records recently released Serafin String Quartet's debut commercial CD, which received critical acclaim in The Strad Magazine and is now available internationally. Upcoming and recent performances by the Quartet include: St. John's, Smith Square - London, Philadelphia's Annenberg Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Now (PA), Highlands (NC), Classicopia (VT), Fanfare (LA), and Delaware chamber music festivals. The Quartet often presents performances at colleges and universities having appeared at the University of Delaware, Rutgers University, Dartmouth University, Emory University, Vanderbilt University, Lehigh University, Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. The Quartet has been featured on WHYY-TV and WRTI radio.

Devoted to furthering new works for quartet, Serafin String Quartet is preparing to record early chamber works for strings by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Jennifer Higdon. In addition, the Quartet has premiered works by Mark Hagerty (2007), Richard Belcastro (2006), Drew Hemenger (2005) and David Laganella (2004). Their repertoire includes works by Robert Maggio and Maurice Wright, and a special program of all-American works. The Serafins also collaborate with poet, Kate Light in presenting her project, Einstein's Mozart: Two Geniuses.

Since its founding, Serafin String Quartet has been applauded by audiences around the nation, including sell-out crowds at repeat performances in New York City's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Serafin String Quartet works with young musicians through a variety of performances and lectures, including its current role as Quartet in Residence for the University of Delaware, and previously as Weinstock Ensemble In Residence for Lehigh University. The Quartet's varied lecture-recitals feature Beethoven, Mozart, Bartok, Interpreting New Music, Romanticism, Chamber Music, The Voice of the American String Quartet and The Development of the String Quartet.

Reflecting their egalitarian viewpoint, Serafin String Quartet violinists share equally the responsibility for playing the first and second violin parts. Collaboration with artists is a frequent part of the Quartet's activities, including programs with internationally acclaimed pianists Charles Abramovic and Sandra Rivers; a special project with the Vega String Quartet; performances with oboist John Dee, bass/baritone Grant Youngblood and clarinetists Igor Begelman and Marianne Gythfeldt. The individual artists of the quartet have been heralded around the globe for concerts and recordings, receiving critical acclaim in the press.

Serafin String Quartet takes its name from master violin maker, Sanctus Serafin, who in 1728 crafted the violin currently played by Kate Ransom. Timothy Schwarz plays a violin by Carlo Antonio Testore from 1741. Lawrence Stomberg's cello is attributed to the School of Testore, circa 1727. The Testore instruments are played by the Quartet thanks to generous support by Dr. William Stegeman.