About Us
Founded in 2002 by Karine Stone and Diego Garcia, Quartsemble is an innovative chamber music ensemble based in Rochester, New York and dedicated to performing classical masterpieces side by side with Latin music and more contemporary repertoire. Quartsemble is known for its interactive educational concerts and informal lecture recitals, often performing in local schools, churches, and libraries, as well as in restaurants, bars, and parks. These performances are dedicated to making high caliber performances of classical music more accessible to a wide range of audiences, by offering listeners immediate insight into the music being performed, and by creating the opportunity for listeners to attend a concert in a variety of venues. While Quartsemble has a string quintet as its nucleus, the group has much more flexibility than a traditional chamber music group. Quartsemble frequently expands to incorporate winds, piano, vocalists, narrators, and choirs.
In recent years, Quartsemble is known for their collaborations with Madrigalia, a Rochester based chamber choir. The two ensembles have united to perform standards from the classical repertoire, in addition to giving world premiere performances by composers Carson Cooman and Glenn McClure. They have performed numerous concerts for young children and families in collaboration with narrator and audience leader, Terry Fonda Smith. These concerts give children a way of participating physically in the music being performed, so that they learn that performances are interactive while they develop listening skills and, a greater appreciation for classical music. It also gives parents and families with young children the opportunity to hear classical music in a venue where they do not have to worry about their children’s activity disrupting the performance. Activities are part of the performance!
Quartsemble also performs regularly at the "Flipside", their favorite neighborhood bar and grill. The restaurant has long been the host to local rock bands, singers, and jazz combos. Quartsemble performs everything from Mozart, Correlli, Shubert and D’vorak to Latin Music, covers of Beatles songs, jazz standards and compositions by their own ensemble members. The performances are typically held during happy hour and on Sunday afternoons. They are free to the public, and offer a venue accessible to many classical music lovers who enjoy listening to great music in a more casual environment than a traditional symphony hall or recital hall. The venue also encourages Quartsemble "fans" to bring friends who may never have gone to a classical performance elsewhere.