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School of Music

  • Parker Quartet

    Parker Quartet

    USC Quartet-in-Residence

  • Master Class with Parker Quartet

    USC Quartet-in-Residence

    Master class with the Parker Quartet

  • Master Class with Parker Quartet

    USC Quartet-in-Residence

    Master class with the Parker Quartet

Parker Quartet Chamber Music Residency

The UofSC School of Music's Chamber Music Residency with the world-renowned Parker Quartet brings a series of public concerts, master classes, community outreach and special opportunities for chamber music enthusiasts each fall and spring.

The Parker Quartet has been called "something extraordinary" by The New York Times.

2019 Spring Residency

April 3–7, 2019

Parker Quartet Concert

Thursday, April 4 - 7:30 p.m.
School of Music Recital Hall
Buy tickets here.

The Program:
Mozart – Quartet in E-flat major
Iannis Xenakis – Tetras
Beethoven – String Quartet in E-flat major

Chamber Music Master Class

Fri, April 5, 7:30 p.m.
School of Music Recital Hall

Free Family Concert

Sunday, April 7 - 5:00 p.m.
Johnson Performance Hall, Darla Moore School of Business, level 1

The Program:
Brahms – Sextet in G major with faculty members Daniel Sweaney, viola, and Robert Jesselson, cello

Chamber Music Day and High School String Quartet Competition

Saturday, April 6, 2019
3:15-5:30 p.m. Master Classes
USC School of Music Recital Hall and Room 006

Competition Performance - 7:30 p.m. 
Johnson Performance Hall, Darla Moore School of Business
Advanced high school string quartets have a unique opportunity to work with the world-renowned Parker Quartet. The Quartet mentors pre-formed student string quartets through intensive coachings and master classes throughout the day, leading to a performance and competition in the evening. Coaches are members of the Parker Quartet and the USC School of Music string faculty.

2018 Fall Residency

October 24–28, 2018

For more information about the Parker Quartet, visit their website.

Parker Quartet Concert

Thursday, October 25 - 7:30 p.m.
School of Music Recital Hall (813 Assembly St.)
Daniel Chong and Ken Hamao, violins; Jessica Bodner, viola; and Kee-Hyun Kim, cello

The program:
Ludwig van Beethoven  (1770-1827) - Quartet in B flat, op. 18, no. 6
György Kurtág (b. 1926) - Six moments musicaux, op. 44
György Kurtág - Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervanksky, op. 28
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10

Adults $15; Students $5; Seniors/Military/USC Faculty & Staff $10 (School of Music free)

Buy tickets here.

Master Classes

Open and free to the public
Individual Instruments
Fri., October 26, 2:00 p.m.
Violin: Room 210 and Room 214
Viola: Room 201
Cello: Room 040

Chamber Music Master Class
Fri., October 26, 7:30 p.m.
School of Music Recital Hall

Parker Quartet and Friends Family Concert

Sun., October 28 - 5:00 p.m.
Johnson Performance Hall, Darla Moore School of Business, level 1 (1051 Greene St.)
FREE
Daniel Chong and Ken Hamao, violins; Jessica Bodner, viola; Kee-Hyun Kim, cello; Craig Butterfield, double bass; Joseph Eller, clarinet; JD Shaw, horn; and Michael Harley, bassoon

The program:
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) - Octet in F major, D. 80

About the Parker Quartet

Inspiring performances, luminous sound and exceptional musicianship are the hallmarks of the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet (Daniel Chong and Ken Hamao, violins; Jessica Bodner, viola, Kee-Hyun Kim, cello).

Renowned for their dynamic, compelling interpretations, expansive colors, and varied repertoire ranging from classical to romantic to new music, the group has rapidly distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation.

In demand worldwide, the quartet has appeared at distinguished venues, series and festivals throughout North and South America, Great Britain, Europe and South Korea since its founding in 2002.

Founded and currently based in Boston, the Parker Quartet’s numerous honors include winning the Concert Artists Guild Competition, the Grand Prix and Mozart Prize at France’s Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, and Chamber Music America’s prestigious biennial Cleveland Quartet Award.

Now Blodgett Artists-in-Residence at Harvard University’s Department of Music, as well as in residence at USC School of Music, the Quartet’s numerous residencies have included serving as Artists-in-Residence at the University of St. Thomas, Quartet-in-Residence artists at the University of Minnesota, Quartet-in-Residence with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and as the first-ever Artists-in-Residence with Minnesota Public Radio (2009-2010).

About the Chamber Music Residency

This Residency Partnership Program is supported by the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund. A grant from the provost office brought them to USC for the first residency year and subsequent years have been supported with donations, including an anonymous $100,000 challenge gift to create a permanent endowment for the string quartet residency.