New Orford String Quartet adds international flair to Thiel College’s Con Spirito series

Posted February 19, 2020 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- New Orford String Quartet performs at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9 at Thiel College’s David Johnson Memorial Chapel as part of the College’s Con Spirito Chamber Music Series.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The original Orford String Quartet gave its first public concert in 1965 and became one of the best-known and most illustrious chamber music ensembles. After more than 2,000 concerts on six continents, the Orford String Quartet gave its last concert in 1991. Two decades later, in July 2009, the New Orford String Quartet took up this mantle, giving its first concert for a sold-out audience at the Orford Arts Centre. The New Orford Quartet has since gone on to perform concerts throughout North America and lead residencies at the University of Toronto, Schulich School of Music, Mount Royal University and Syracuse University. In September 2017, the Quartet became Ensemble in Residence at the University of Toronto and was recently named Artistic Directors of the Prince Edward County Music Festival, where they will make their curatorial debut in September 2018.

Listen to a New Orford String Quartet selection.

The Quartet regularly tours in metropolitan areas, but at the same time, the members feel strongly about bringing this music to areas that don’t often hear it. As a result, they perform frequently in rural locations. As part of their leadership positions at the major orchestras in Montreal, Toronto and Detroit, each member of the Quartet regularly has the opportunity to perform as a soloist with his orchestra.

In 2007, the Con Spirito Chamber Music Concert Series’ tradition of musical excellence started when LaVonne H’16 and the late Glen R. Johnson H’88, in honor of their late daughter, created the series to bring top musical talent to Thiel College and the region. Con Spirito is just one of the offerings at Thiel that connects the college to the regional arts community.