Recital: Balourdet Quartet
The Balourdet Quartet, NEC's current quartet in residence in the Professional String Quartet Program, presents a live performance at Jordan Hall.
The quartet members study with Nicholas Kitchen, Donald Weilerstein, and Paul Katz.
The NEC Professional String Quartet Training Program
Once every two years, NEC admits a single string quartet into its Professional String Quartet Program, led by NEC faculty and Cleveland Quartet cellist Paul Katz. In addition to full tuition scholarships and living stipends, the program provides intensive training and coaching to exceptional, pre-existing groups who demonstrate the talent and commitment necessary to pursue a concert career. Previous graduates of the program include the Kuss, Jupiter, Parker, Ariel, Harlem, Biava, Omer, and Verona Quartets.
- Balourdet Quartet
- Angela Bae and Justin DeFilippis, violin
- Benjamin Zannoni, viola
- Russell Houston, cello
Franz Joseph Haydn | String Quartet in B-flat Major, op. 76 no. 4 “Sunrise” (1797-98)
Allegro con spirito
Adagio
Menuetto: Allegro
Finale: Allegro ma non troppoIgor Stravinsky | Three Pieces for String Quartet (1914/rev. 1918)
Danse
Excentrique
CantiqueNina C. Young | Memento Mori (2013)
Johannes Brahms | String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, op. 51 no. 2 (1873)
Allegro non troppo
Andante moderato
Quasi Minuetto, moderato
Finale: Allegro non assaiBalourdet Quartet
The Balourdet Quartet, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is currently in residence at the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program. The quartet received the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition as well as the top prize awarded in the 2021 Premio Paolo Borciani in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The group also received the Gold Medal in the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the 2021 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, and the Second Prize in the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Balourdet appeared in numerous virtual performances for institutions such as the Schneider Concert Series, the New England Conservatory’s First Mondays Series, Music For Food, and Massachusetts Peace Action. The group also curated and performed an educational program for over 500 children in schools across the Michiana region, as well as gave masterclasses through the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy. They have also conducted workshops and masterclasses for NEC’s Preparatory Division, Upper Valley Chamber Music Center, and string students in the Dallas area.
Highlights of the 2021-2022 season include Accademia Musicale Chigiana, La Jolla Summerfest, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, Pro Musica Classical San Miguel, CMA Showcase, and an in-person return to the Schneider Concert Series.
The Balourdet has shared the stage with renowned artists including Cho-Liang Lin, as well as members of the Dover Quartet. It has studied and performed at festivals including the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute, and Accademia Musicale Chigiana. The Balourdet Quartet works primarily with Paul Katz at the New England Conservatory, as well as members of the Cleveland and Borromeo Quartets. The quartet was formed in 2018 at Rice University in Houston, Texas under the tutelage of James Dunham, Norman Fischer, and Cho-Liang Lin.
The Balourdet Quartet gets its name from Antoine Balourdet, chef extraordinaire at the Hotel St. Bernard and beloved member of the Taos School of Music community.We would like to extend our gratitude to all our mentors,
Mr. Katz. Ms. Fried, Mr. Kitchen, Mr. Heiss, Ms. Motobuchi, Ms. Strongin Katz,
and Mr. Weilerstein for their tremendous dedication in teaching us throughout this year.Additionally, we’d like to thank everyone watching and supporting us
in person and online today.