Cecilia String Quartet Announces 17/18 as Its Last Season Performing Together as an Ensemble

It is with mixed emotions that the Cecilia String Quartet announces the 17/18 concert season as its last performing together as an ensemble. Winner of the 2010 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Canadian-based Cecilia String Quartet has delighted audiences around the globe with “powerful” (Chicago Sun-Times) and “dauntingly perfect” (Berliner Zeitung) performances, as well as a charming and accessible personality. The Cecilia String Quartet has been a champion of accessible music concerts, founding Xenia Concerts, a series catering to children on the autism spectrum and their families. For its final season, the Cecilia String Quartet will return to some of its favorite and most supportive series, including Festival of the Sound, University of Toronto, Ottawa Chamber Music Society, and Jeffery Concerts. Additionally, the Quartet will do two European tours, and present several Xenia Concerts throughout the season. The Cecilia String Quartet recently joined the roster of New York-based boutique agency, Arts28. Under the management of Arts28 founder and managing director, Katherine Womer Benjamin, the Quartet was poised to gain an increased presence in the United States. Despite her short time working with the Quartet, Ms. Womer Benjamin has grown quite fond of the group, and is sad to see such a gifted ensemble come to an end. Joining the Cecilia String Quartet for its final season will be acclaimed cellist, Claire Bryant. Ms. Bryant will step in for Cecilia Quartet member, Rachel Desoer, who will leave the group in October 2017 to honor personal project commitments. Although the Cecilia String Quartet’s time together is coming to an end, we will no doubt continue to hear the remarkable playing of members Min-Jeong Koh, Sarah Nematallah, Caitlin Boyle, and Rachel Desoer, as they move forward in their performance careers. For questions, contact Katherine H Womer Benjamin, 617-448-0007, KHWB@artstwentyeight.com.