New Vega Quartet member

The Vega String Quartet (http://www.vegaquartet.com/), Quartet in Residence at Emory University in Atlanta under the auspices of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (https://chambermusicsociety.emory.edu/), is delighted to announce that after a covid-delayed search, Emily Daggett Smith has joined them as first violinist. Elizabeth Fayette left at the beginning of the pandemic to pursue other opportunities. Her first concerts with the Vega will be in February in Atlanta.

Praised as playing “gorgeously” (The Boston Globe) and with “irrepressible élan” (The Seattle Times), violinist Emily Daggett Smith has performed across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. Dr. Smith made her New York concerto debut playing the Beethoven Concerto with the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall, and has since performed with orchestras including Iris Orchestra, the Festival Mozaic Orchestra and the New York Classical Players. She has given solo recitals across the country at venues including the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Music in the Loft in Chicago. Dr. Smith has performed with renowned musicians including members of the Cleveland, Emerson and Juilliard String Quartets, and her performances have taken place at some of the world’s greatest halls including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Vienna Konzerthaus. As concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra she worked with conductors including Michael Tilson-Thomas and Leonard Slatkin, and has appeared as guest concertmaster of orchestras including Iris Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, and The Knights. Equally passionate about performing old and new music, Dr. Smith has commissioned and premiered dozens of works, both as a soloist, chamber musician and as a member of The Knights Chamber Orchestra. Despite her busy performance schedule, Dr. Smith is dedicated to teaching and has served on faculty at the Bard Conservatory Pre-College, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Stony Brook University, and The Juilliard School, where she is assistant for Laurie Smukler. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University. Her teachers have included Soovin Kim, Philip Setzer, Joel Smirnoff, Laurie Smukler, and Donald Weilerstein.  She plays on a Johannes Cuypers violin, generously donated by Dr. Marylou Witz. Visit: http://www.emilydaggettsmith.com/