Alum ensemble Afiara String Quartet hits it big

Posted Fri, 11/20/2009 - 1:10am by Matt Itelson

After completing a fellowship at SF State, the Afiara String Quartet is developing a national buzz, through a Juilliard residency and recitals at storied venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.

The all-Canadian ensemble traveled from SF State to The Juilliard School, where it is resident string quartet this academic year. As the recipient of Lisa Arnhold Fellowships, the Afiara String Quartet has performed a full Lincoln Center recital this season, and the musicians have lessons with members of the Juilliard String Quartet.

While serving as SF State’s Morrison Fellowship Quartet-in-Residence, the Afiara won the 2008 Concert Artists Guild International Competitionand claimed a top prize at the 2008 Munich ARD International Music Competition.

The Afiara String Quartet made its Carnegie Hall debut Nov. 17 as part of the Concert Artists Guild Winners Series.

Afiara also recently released its first CD, a Mendelssohn-Schubert mix that features an octet with mentors the Alexander String Quartet. The CD is on the Foghorn Classics label.

The Afiara String Quartet, described as “quicksilver and delicate…electric and filled with sentiment” by the San Jose Mercury News, returns to SF State on Feb. 7 to play a free Morrison Artists Series concert.