Penny Quartet
“They have found exactly the right ingredients for a dynamic, finely integrated musical entity.”
Madeleine Jevons, violin
Amy Brookman, violin
Anthony Chataway, viola
Jack Ward, cello
Penny Quartet have gained a reputation as a driven and multifaceted voice in Australian chamber music. Founded in early 2014, the group brings a vibrant approach to their performances across the country.
In their inaugural year, they were nominated for the Freedman Fellowship award, were the recipients of the John and Rosemary Macleod Travelling Fellowship and winners of the Australian National Academy of Music Chamber Music Competition. Since then, the Penny Quartet have been an ensemble in residence at the Four Winds Festival, Canberra International Music Festival, presented independent recital tours across Australia as well as Featured Artists with Musica Viva Australia's regional touring program. They made their international debut as full scholarship holders at the St. Lawrence String Quartet seminar at Stanford, CA.
Penny Quartet regularly collaborate and record with various composers and musicians, both independently and as Festival artists. They have been part of the “Local Heroes” subscription series at the Melbourne Recital Centre since late 2017 and are two-time recipients of the MRC Contemporary Masters Award.
With diverse individual backgrounds and experiences across the globe, the group brings together years of knowledge and training to create a mature quartet sound. The Penny Quartet's repertoire is wide and varied; a love for the core quartet repertoire is intertwined with an urge to explore less charted territory.
A celebration of beauty and energy - a complete string quartet experience.
Penny Quartet bring their signature joyous approach to a program celebrating the sublime, some grit and all that lies between.
Starting with a bang, Bartok's absolutely all-consuming Fourth Quartet is fuelled by high octane, folk-inspired motifs, whilst also providing space for reflection - a perfect illustration of Bartok's 'golden' balance. We are then grounded by new Australian string quartet commissioned by Musica Viva Australia, in world premiere performances. Taking us home is papa Joseph Haydn, in his very cheeky Opus 50 no. 5, ‘The Dream’. In classic Haydn form, it has a stunning slow movement and plenty of tricks to listen out for!
BARTÓK String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91
New Australian work for string quartet commissioned by Musica Viva Australia
HAYDN String Quartet in F major, Op. 50 No. 5 ‘The Dream’
Approximately 60 minutes without interval
- Four wire music stands
- Four musician chairs or chairs without arms
Masterclasses, workshops, private lessons, pre-or post-concert talks and Q&As are available.
August 31 - September 10
Book an artist
Travel to centres in regional NSW is subsidised through the support of Create NSW. Musica Viva can book the artists, arrange all travel and accommodation, provide posters, flyers and program information.
If you are interested in bringing an ensemble to your town or city, please contact:
Sean Moloney
Manager, Special Projects & Regional Touring
02 8394 6662