Grammy Award-Winning Quartet Arrives at Harvard

Grammy award-winning and internationally acclaimed chamber music group the Parker Quartet was chosen as the new Quartet-in-Residence at Harvard. The quartet will join Harvard’s music staff and begin its teaching experience in the fall of 2014.

The Boston-based Parker Quartet is composed of two violinists—Daniel Chong and Ying Xue—as well as violist Jessica Bodner and cellist Kee-Hyun Kim.

“To have this opportunity to be part of a wonderful and thrilling residency is exhilarating for us,” Chong said on behalf of the group.

The Parker Quartet has performed in concert halls across the world, made several appearances at Carnegie Hall, and taught at schools including the University of South Carolina and the University of St. Thomas. Formed in 2002, the group originally focused mainly on touring in order to gain exposure and establish a reputation, Chong said.

"They are definitely one of the most exciting young quartets out there, and they are extremely dynamic," said professor Alexander Rehding, music department chair.

On the prospect of teaching and working in residence at college campuses, Chong said, “in the back of our minds, we knew that that would be a dimension to our careers we would want to expand.”

With the selection of the Parker Quartet, the Harvard Music Department continues a tradition begun in 1985 of inviting a musician or group on campus to teach and perform in free concerts.

Every year, the music department examines a large number of musical groups, from which a select few are then invited to campus interviews. The interview process involves giving a short recital, working with student chamber music groups, and collaborating with Harvard composers, Rehding said.

"The Parker Quartet was just very impressive on all fronts," Rehding said about the group’s interview last spring.

Remarking on the students he interacted with, Chong added, “we found [them] to be incredibly bright and incredibly talented.”

This year also marks a change in the way the Quartet-in-Residence at Harvard functions, Rehding said. Whereas in previous years, groups came to campus for one-week intervals twice each semester, this year the quartet will be on campus for virtually the entire fall semester. Despite the success of prior Quartets-in-Residence, Rehding said, they simply were not able to become fully integrated into the community because of the structure of the program.

Once at Harvard, the Parker Quartet will assist student chamber music groups and classes, in addition to performing in four concerts. The group will also be at Harvard on Friday, Oct. 18 to perform in the “Music in Time” Concert.