Ulysses Quartet

The Ulysses String Quartet has been praised for their “textural versatility,” “grave beauty,” and “gentle blanket of colour,” (Strad) as well as “avid enthusiasm ... [with] chops to back up their passion” and a “vibrant sonority” (San Diego Story). Winners of First Prize in the 2018 Schoenfeld International String Competition, along with the Grand Prize and Gold Medal in the Senior String Division of the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the group was founded in the summer of 2015. Ulysses also won First Place in the American Prize, and 2nd Prize of the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in 2017. The quartet competed in the Semifinals Round of the 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition where they garnered a Career Development Grant.

Hailing from Canada, the United States and Taiwan, members have performed in prestigious halls such as Harbin Grand Theatre, Carnegie Hall, and the Taiwan National Concert Hall. Recent season highlights include appearances at the Vietnam Connection Festival, Chamber Music Society of Hong Kong, a debut at Taiwan National Recital Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, Emilia Romagna Festival, Kneisel Hall and the Schneider Concerts. Upcoming engagements include performances at the University of Utah, the Marigny Opera House, Tulane University, Ulysses’s debut at Jordan Hall, a quartet residency for the Zukerman Young Artist Program, and a return to the Vietnam Connection Festival. Members perform on instruments and bows graciously on loan from the Canada Council of the Arts Instrument Bank and the Maestro Foundation.

The name ‘Ulysses’ pays homage to Homer’s hero Odysseus and his ten year voyage home. The quartet is based in Washington Heights, New York City, and its members live in close proximity to the resting place of former U.S. president, Ulysses S. Grant. The Ulysses Quartet believes intensely in the power of music to inspire, enlighten, and bring people together. They are committed in sharing this passion by increasing access and appreciation for classical music while enhancing audience engagement. To this end, the quartet offers interactive programs and workshops for all ages that demystify traditional repertoire while introducing new and exciting works. Their programs invite participants to learn about the inner workings of the string quartet. Quartet members explore connections that music makes with our world today, through the rich history of its creation.

Along with active chamber music careers, Ulysses members hold principal positions with groups such as the Cape Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, International Chamber Players, and Miami Symphony and Shattered Glass. They received degrees from the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory and Yale University. Members are pursuing their Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at the City University of New York and Manhattan School of Music.