Friction Quartet
O1C Artists-in-residence
Kevin Rogers, violin; Otis Harriel, violin; Taija Warbelow, viola; Doug Machiz, cello
with special guests Jodie Levitz, viola; Jennifer Culp, cello
Brian Baumbusch Three Elements San Francisco Premiere
Maurice Ravel String Quartet
Piers Hellawell String Quartet No. 2 “Driftwood on Sand”
Garth Knox Satellites
Friction Quartet, whose performances have been called “terribly beautiful” (San Francisco Classical Voice), “stunningly passionate” (Calgary Herald) and “chillingly effective” (San Francisco Examiner), exists to expand the string quartet repertoire and audience for adventurous contemporary music through commissioning composers and performing in underserved schools and communities. Recently they gave their Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Kronos Quartet Workshop. They will participate in the Shouse Institute at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival this June where they will give their Detroit debut and appear with Paul Watkins of the Emerson Quartet. Friction received a Chamber Music America grant to commission a piano quintet from Andy Akiho. John Adams shared Friction’s video of the second movement of his first string quartet on his homepage and called it “spectacular.” They are the first ensemble in residence at the Center for New Music in San Francisco. While Friction has garnered international attention as commissioners and interpreters of new music, they are also devoted to performing masterworks of the string quartet repertoire. They were quarter finalists in the 2015 Fischoff Competition, placed second at the 2015 Frances Walton Competition and received the 2012 Berkeley Piano Club Award. Friction has participated in the St. Lawrence String Quartet Seminar, The St. Lawrence String Quartet Emerging Quartet program, the Banff Chamber Music Residency, and the Deer Valley Music Festival.