The Kalaya String Quartet Performs at Gallery on Queen, Friday September 1.
The Kalaya String Quartet came together in 2015 with the goal of bringing contemporary classical music to new audiences and spaces. Formed by a group of musicians studying in Ottawa at the time, the KSQ would go on to perform at Chamberfest in Ottawa and the 4th Stage Concert Series at the National Art Centre before eventually spreading out across the country, each member pursuing their own careers and opportunities.
“We started playing together while studying music in Ottawa,” said Emily Kennedy, the group’s cellist. “While we were there we did several projects with local poets, songwriters, and performed in a few concert series in the city. We’re all pretty interested in collaborating and performing new music, and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to dedicate more time to doing that kind of work.”
Although distance adds a degree of complexity to the group’s performance schedule, members Marlena Pellegrino (Violin), Adora Wong (Violin), David Endemann (Viola) and Emily Kennedy (Cello ) continue to find time to rehearse and opportunities to perform.
“Since finishing school we’ve moved – half of us now living in New Brunswick and the other half still in Ottawa – but have been trying to continue performing together,” she said. “The distance does make things a little tricky, but we block a week before the performance to dedicate to rehearsals, so it’s been working out so far.”
The group will be performing two New Brunswick shows this week with a program ranging from classic repertoire to minimalist film music. The centrepiece of the program is the intensely emotional war time String Quartet No. 2 by British composer Benjamin Britten. Also featured will be Schubert’s unfinished Quartettsatz (Little Quartet) and Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 3, Mishima.
Tickets for the Fredericton concert can be purchased at Gallery on Queen and at Read’s Newsstand and Café.
The Kalaya String Quartet | Gallery on Queen | Fredericton | September 1 | 7:30 p.m. | View Event
The Kalaya String Quartet | Vogue Theatre | Miramichi | September 2 | 7:30 p.m. | View Event
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