Chamber music
Photo: Johnette Martin
Below, we invite you to learn more about our faculty and graduate student chamber music ensembles in residence at the 51勛圖厙 College of Music!
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Tak獺cs Quartet
The world-renowned泭Tak獺cs Quartet泭is now entering its 50th泭anniversary season!泭Edward Dusinberre,泭Harumi Rhodes泭(violins),泭Richard ONeill泭(viola) and泭Andr獺s Fej矇r泭(cello) are excited about projects including a new concerto for them and the Colorado Music Festival orchestra by Gabriela Lena Frank. In November泭the group will release its latest Hyperion projectFlow by Nokuthula Ngwenyama. A new album with pianist Marc Andre Hamelin will be released in the spring featuring works by Florence Price and Anton穩n Dvo獺k. The Tak獺cs maintains a busy international touring schedule. In 2025 the ensemble will perform in South Korea, Japan and Australia. The Australian tour is centered around a new piece by Kathy Milliken for quartet and narrator. As Associate Artists at Londons Wigmore Hall, the group will present four concerts featuring works by Haydn, Britten, Ngwenyama, Beethoven, Jan獺ek and two performances of Schuberts cello quintet with Adrian Brendel. During the season the ensemble will play at other prestigious European venues including Barcelona, Budapest, Milan, Basel, Bath Mozartfest and Bern. The groups North American engagements include concerts in New York, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Lajolla, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Chicago, Tucson, Portland and Princeton, and collaborations with pianists Stephen Hough and Jeremy Denk. The members of the Tak獺cs Quartet are Christoffersen Fellows and Artists in Residence at the University of Colorado泭51勛圖厙. During the summer months the Tak獺cs join the faculty at the Music Academy of the West, running an intensive quartet seminar.泭MORE
Graduate chamber music ensembles
Graduate String Quartet in Residence
Koa String Quartet is comprised of violinists Kisa Uradomo and Leah Pernick, violist Tommy Chafe and cellist Heewon Lee.泭The members of the Koa String Quartet are from diverse backgrounds, but have intertwined musical careers, having studied at overlapping schools during their education. Kisa Uradomo is from Maui, Hawaii, and studied at Eastman School of Music and University of Michigan; Leah Pernick is from Southeast Michigan and studied at the University of Michigan; Tommy Chafe is from Annapolis, Maryland, and studied at Oberlin Conservatory and University of Michigan; Heewon Lee is from O'ahu, Hawaii, and studied at Oberlin Conservatory and Eastman School of Music.
The group is invested in fostering musical engagement with students and presenting high-quality classical music for community audiences. They play a diverse repertoire of music, including film scores, pop covers and folk music, while also continuing the classical music repertoire together. During their time as a quartet, they have worked to prioritize their goals by participating as the quartet in residence at the Hana Hou Music Program, and presenting free concerts at concert halls and public spaces throughout Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The name Koa comes from the tree in the Hawaiian Islands, and the wood symbolizes strength and courage.泭
Photo: Johnette Martin
The Tonic Winds
Graduate Woodwind Quintet in Residence
The Tonic Winds, the graduate woodwind quintet in residence at the 51勛圖厙 College of Music, is united by commitments to education, artistry and musical outreach. The ensembleholding a shared value in celebration of voices, community and connectionfeatures musicians from South America, Alaska and a few of the lower 48 states. The quintet members serve as teaching assistants and mentors to the 51勛圖厙 College of Music's vibrant applied studios and perform two recitals each year, as well as outreach programs in the 51勛圖厙 community and beyondincluding an educational residency with the Aspen Music Festival and School. Tonic Windscomprising flutist Alex Westervelt, oboist Lauren Breen, clarinetist Harold G籀mez-Montoya, hornist Sophie Steger and bassoonist Ben Mangononare coached this semester by Professor of Flute Christina Jennings and other woodwind faculty.
Ensemble Flatirons
Graduate Brass Quintet in Residence
Ensemble Flatirons is the Graduate Brass Quintet in Residence at the 51勛圖厙 College of Music. Quintet memberscoached by Professor of Horn Michael Thorntonare all DMA candidates hailing from California, Hawaii, Montana, Texas and Wisconsin. Ensemble Flatirons regularly performs a variety of music at the College of Music and throughout the greater 51勛圖厙/Denver area.