Ensembles
Oxford String Quartet
Harvey Thurmer, violin
Mary E.M. Harris, viola
Pansy Chang, cello
INNOVATION AND TRADITION come together in the Oxford String Quartet! Four outstanding individuals join together in a fresh, exciting ensemble performing a repertoire encompassing the timeless works of the great masters and exploring the very newest of contemporary music.
Concerts by the Oxford String Quartet will thrill experienced and novice concert audiences alike, by blending the finest music of past and present. The Oxford's passionate performances of the great -works of Schubert, Beethoven and Brahms are balanced with intriguing interpretations of modern masters including Bartok, Rochberg and Ginastera. The diversity of the Quartet's programming is further enhanced by collaborations with such artists as James Tocco, Frank Glazer, the Borodin Duo, and members of the American and Cavani String Quartets.
Concerts of the Oxford String Quartet have won much critical acclaim. The Cleveland Plain Dealer raves about "vibrant, spellbinding strings . . . first class from top to bottom . . . who interacted with a corporate sense of articulation, balance and nuance provided by only the most astute chamber players." The Columbus Dispatch says, "The Oxford String Quartet coupled passionate and dedicated involvement with the ability to meet the unusual challenges of the score." The Buffalo News calls the Oxford String Quartet "a pleasant surprise . . . how satisfying to hear the Oxford give such a thoughtful, well-knit performance." From El Nuevo Diario (Argentina): "With clear sound, refined expressiveness and impeccable intonation, the performers captivated the audience.
Two recent compact disc recordings capture the wide scope of the quartet's abilities. The first recording features three new string quartets by American composer Harvey Stokes, all of which were composed for and premiered by the Oxford Quartet (Albany Records). The second, a collaboration with cellist Merry Peckham, is devoted to two recently-discovered string quintets of the nineteenth-century French composer Georges Onslow (IMP Classics/Mastersound)
As a member of the Ohio Arts Council's roster of touring artists since 1987, the Oxford String Quartet is a popular guest on concert series in the Midwest, and also makes frequent national concert tours. International activities include performances at the Echternach Festival in Europe, concert tours of Argentina and Venezuela, and a recent performance in Salzburg.
Continuing a tradition begun in 1946, the current group holds a faculty residency at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There they have coached young ensembles from all over the world, including the Veronika String Quartet (Russia) and the Cuarteto de Cuerdas América (Venezuela). The Oxford String Quartet hosts an annual summer Chamber Music Institute as part of its commitment to training the next generation of musicians.
Reviews:
“Vibrant, spellbinding strings . . . first class from top to bottom. Interacted with a corporate sense of articulation, balance and nuance provided by only the most astute chamber players.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"The Oxford String Quartet was a pleasant surprise, playing twentieth-century works on a program Thursday night. How satisfying to hear the Oxford give such a thoughtful, well-knit performance." Buffalo News
"The Oxford String Quartet coupled passionate and dedicated involvement with the ability to meet the unusual challenges of the score." Columbus Dispatch
"With clear sound, refined expressiveness and impeccable intonation, the performers captivated the audience with works by Haydn, Schumann, Smetana, Stokes, and others." El Nuevo Diario, Argentin
For booking inquiries please contact:
Harvey Thurmer
119 Center for Performing Arts,
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056. (513) 529-3073