Cypress  String  Quartet  

 Praised  by  Gramophone  for  its  “artistry  of  uncommon  insight  and  cohesion,”  and  by  The  New  York  Times  for  “rich  tone,  crisp  ensemble  work  and  expressive  nuance,”  the  San  Francisco-­‐based  Cypress  String  Quartet  has  performed  together  for  nearly  20  years,  recording  over  15  albums  and  performing  throughout  the  world.  Since  its  inception,  the  Cypress  has  created  a  niche  as  a  passionate,  insightful,  and  innovative  ensemble.  The  Cypress  members  enthrall  their  audiences,  whether  performing  for  seasoned  concertgoers  or  those  hearing  classical  music  for  the  first  time.    The  Cypress  maintains  a  busy  national  and  international  tour  schedule,  making  appearances  on  concert  series  and  in  venues  including  Cal  Performances,  Kennedy  Center,  Library  of  Congress,  Stanford  Live,  Krannert  Center,  Ravinia  Festival,  and  92Y.  The  group’s  collaborators  include  artists  such  as  Leon  Fleisher,  Jon  Nakamatsu,  Awadagin  Pratt,  Gary  Hoffman,  Atar  Arad,  James  Dunham,  and  Zuill  Bailey.  They  have  also  been  heard  on  the  Netflix  original  series  House  of  Cards  and  have  collaborated  with  artists  ranging  from  Michael  Franti  of  Spearhead  to  modern  dance  companies.      In  addition  to  definitive  interpretations  of  masters  such  as  Beethoven,  Haydn  and  Schubert,  the  Cypress  has  commissioned  some  of  the  most  important  composers  of  our  time  including  Kevin  Puts,  Philippe  Hersant,  Jennifer  Higdon,  George  Tsontakis,  and  Elena  Ruehr.  Through  its  signature  Call  &  Response  program,  the  Cypress  String  Quartet  commissions  and  premieres  new  string  quartets  from  both  emerging  and  celebrated  composers,  asking  them  to  write  in  response  to  established  chamber  repertoire.  Call  &  Response  creates  a  dynamic  dialogue  between  the  past  and  present,  between  performers  and  composers,  and  among  audiences  of  all  ages.  The  Cypress  Quartet’s  annual  Call  &  Response  concert  has  earned  a  strong  West  Coast  following  and  is  preceded  by  community  outreach  throughout  the  Bay  Area  in  public  libraries,  unorthodox  spaces,  and  schools.  In  addition,  the  Cypress  tours  Call  &  Response  repertoire,  bringing  these  new  works  to  cities  across  the  country.    The  Cypress  String  Quartet  currently  records  for  the  AVIE  record  label.  The  group’s  complete  three-­‐CD  set  of  Beethoven’s  Late  Quartets  was  named  Best  Classical  CD  of  2012  by  the Dallas  Morning  News;  it  released  a  three-­‐CD  set  of  Beethoven's  Middle  Quartets  in  2014  and  will  release  his  Early  Quartets  in  2016.  In  2013,  the  Cypress  added  an  all-­‐Dvořák  disc  on  the  AVIE  record  label  featuring Cypresses, B.  152 (the  work  from  which  the  ensemble  draws  its  name)  and String  Quartet  in  G,  Op.  106.  In  2014,  the  group  released  a  recording  of  Schubert’s  String  Quintet  D956  with  cellist  Gary  Hoffman  paired  with  Schubert’s  Quartettsatz  D703;  The  New  York  Times  praised  its  “tender,  deeply  expressive”  interpretations.    Dedicated  to  mentoring  and  training  the  next  generation  of  exceptionally  talented  individuals,  the  Cypress  String  Quartet  has  been  visiting  artist  at  many  of  the  top  universities  in  the  United  States,  including  Harvard,  MIT,  Stanford,  and  the  University  of  California.  The  Cypress’  passion  for  sharing  music  extends  far  beyond  classroom  and  concert  hall  halls  to  non-­‐traditional  venues  such  as  boardrooms,  art  galleries,  and  private  residences.  By  combining  passionate  performances  and  lively  discussion,  the  Cypress  creates  an  unforgettable  experience.    

 The  Cypress  String  Quartet  members  received  degrees  from  many  of  the  world’s  finest  conservatories  before  coming  together  as  a  quartet.  These  include  The  Juilliard  School,  Guildhall  School  of  Music  &  Drama  and  the  Royal  College  of  Music  (London),  Indiana  University,  The  Cleveland  Institute  of  Music,  and  the  San  Francisco  Conservatory  of  Music.  After  a  residency  at  the  Banff  Centre  and  a  fellowship  at  the  Center  for  Advanced  Quartet  Studies  of  the  Aspen  Music  Festival,  the  Quartet  coached  intensively  in  London  with  the  Amadeus  Quartet.  Cypress  members  count  the  Cleveland  and  Juilliard  Quartets  as  some  of  their  greatest  influences.    The  members  of  the  Cypress  String  Quartet  play  exceptional  instruments  including  violins  by  Antonio  Stradivari  (1681)  and  Carlo  Bergonzi  (1733),  a  viola  by  Vittorio  Bellarosa  (1947),  and  a  cello  by  Hieronymus  Amati  II  (1701).  The  Cypress  takes  its  name  from  the  set  of  twelve  love  songs  for  string  quartet,  Cypresses,  by  Antonin  Dvořák.      For  more  information,  visit  www.cypressquartet.com.    Acclaim:    “Tender,  deeply  expressive”  –  New  York  Times    “Invigorating  young  quartet”  –  The  New  Yorker    “Artistry  of  uncommon  insight  and  cohesion”  –  Gramophone    “Gripping  and  dramatic…  Brilliant”  –  Muenster,  Germany    “A  combination  of  tenderness  and  urgency.”  –  San  Francisco  Chronicle    “Passion,  feeling,  and  a  wonderful  vibrancy”  –  Reichel  Recommends,  Salt  Lake  City    “Brilliant,  austere,  incisive”  –  The  Sacramento  Bee    “Among  the  most  impressive  in  modern  sound”  –  Stereophile    “The  members  of  [the  Cypress  Quartet]  applied  their  superb  musicianship…  with…  musical  understanding  and  profundity.”  –  San  Francisco  Classical  Voice    The  Cypress  Quartet  play  with  taut  rhythms  and  great  tonal  refinement,  both  as  individuals  and  in  a  beautifully  rounded  ensemble  sound.”  –  BBC  Music  Magazine    Medium  Biography  (487  Words)    Praised  by  Gramophone  for  its  “artistry  of  uncommon  insight  and  cohesion,”  and  by  The  New  York  Times  for  “rich  tone,  crisp  ensemble  work  and  expressive  nuance,”  the  San  Francisco-­‐based  Cypress  String  

 Quartet  has  performed  together  for  nearly  20  years,  recording  over  15  albums  and  performing  throughout  the  world.  Since  its  inception,  the  Cypress  has  created  a  niche  as  a  passionate,  insightful,  and  innovative  ensemble.  The  Cypress  members  enthrall  their  audiences,  whether  performing  for  seasoned  concertgoers  or  those  hearing  classical  music  for  the  first  time.    The  Cypress  maintains  a  busy  national  and  international  tour  schedule,  making  appearances  on  concert  series  and  in  venues  including  Cal  Performances,  Kennedy  Center,  Library  of  Congress,  Stanford  Live,  Krannert  Center,  the  Ravinia  Festival,  and  92Y.  The  group’s  collaborators  include  artists  such  as  Leon  Fleisher,  Jon  Nakamatsu,  Awadagin  Pratt,  Gary  Hoffman,  Atar  Arad,  James  Dunham,  and  Zuill  Bailey.  They  have  also  been  heard  on  the  Netflix  original  series  House  of  Cards  and  have  collaborated  with  artists  ranging  from  Michael  Franti  of  Spearhead  to  modern  dance  companies.    In  addition  to  definitive  interpretations  of  masters  such  as  Beethoven,  Mozart,  and  Schubert,  the  Cypress  has  commissioned  some  of  the  most  important  composers  of  our  time  including  Kevin  Puts,  Philippe  Hersant,  Jennifer  Higdon,  George  Tsontakis,  and  Elena  Ruehr.  Through  its  signature  Call  &  Response  program,  the  Cypress  String  Quartet  commissions  and  premieres  new  string  quartets  from  both  emerging  and  celebrated  composers,  asking  them  to  write  in  response  to  established  chamber  repertoire.  The  annual  Call  &  Response  concert  has  earned  a  strong  West  Coast  following  and  is  preceded  by  community  outreach  throughout  the  Bay  Area  in  public  libraries  and  schools.  By  combining  passionate  performances  and  lively  discussion,  the  Cypress  creates  an  unforgettable  experience.    The  Cypress  String  Quartet  currently  records  for  the  AVIE  record  label.  The  group’s  complete  three-­‐CD  set  of  Beethoven’s  Late  Quartets  was  named  Best  Classical  CD  of  2012  by  the Dallas  Morning  News;  it  released  a  three-­‐CD  set  of  Beethoven's  Middle  Quartets  in  2014  and  will  release  his  Early  Quartets  in  2016.  In  2013,  the  Cypress  added  an  all-­‐Dvořák  disc  featuring  Cypresses,  B.  152 and String  Quartet  in  G,  Op.  106.  In  2014,  the  group  released  a  recording  of  Schubert’s  String  Quintet  D956  with  cellist  Gary  Hoffman  paired  with  Schubert’s  Quartettsatz  D703;  The  New  York  Times  praised  its  “tender,  deeply  expressive”  interpretations.    The  Cypress  String  Quartet  members  received  degrees  from  many  of  the  world’s  finest  conservatories  before  coming  together  as  a  quartet.  These  include  The  Juilliard  School,  Guildhall  School  of  Music  &  Drama  and  the  Royal  College  of  Music  (London),  Indiana  University,  The  Cleveland  Institute  of  Music,  and  the  San  Francisco  Conservatory  of  Music.  After  a  residency  at  the  Banff  Centre  and  a  fellowship  at  the  Center  for  Advanced  Quartet  Studies  of  the  Aspen  Music  Festival,  the  Quartet  coached  intensively  in  London  with  the  Amadeus  Quartet.  The  Cypress  takes  its  name  from  the  set  of  twelve  love  songs  for  string  quartet,  Cypresses,  by  Antonin  Dvořák.      For  more  information,  visit  www.cypressquartet.com.    Short  Biography  (251  Words)    Praised  by  Gramophone  for  its  “artistry  of  uncommon  insight  and  cohesion,”  and  by  The  New  York  Times  for  “tender,  deeply  expressive”  interpretations,  the  San  Francisco-­‐based  Cypress  String  Quartet  has  

 performed  together  for  nearly  20  years,  recording  over  15  albums  and  performing  throughout  the  world.  Since  its  inception,  the  Cypress  has  created  a  niche  as  a  passionate,  insightful,  and  innovative  ensemble.    The  Cypress  maintains  a  busy  international  tour  schedule,  making  appearances  on  acclaimed  concert  series  and  in  venues  including  Cal  Performances,  Kennedy  Center,  and  Library  of  Congress.  They  have  also  been  heard  on  the  Netflix  original  series  House  of  Cards  and  have  collaborated  with  artists  ranging  from  Michael  Franti  of  Spearhead  to  modern  dance  companies.  In  addition  to  definitive  interpretations  of  masters  such  as  Beethoven,  Mozart,  and  Schubert,  the  Cypress  has  commissioned  some  of  the  most  important  composers  of  our  time  including  Kevin  Puts,  Jennifer  Higdon,  George  Tsontakis,  and  Elena  Ruehr,  through  its  signature  Call  &  Response  program.    The  Cypress  currently  records  for  the  AVIE  record  label,  with  recent  releases  including  albums  of  Beethoven’s  Late  and  Middle  Quartets;  an  all-­‐Dvořák  disc  featuring Cypresses,  B.  152  and String  Quartet  in  G,  Op.  106;  and  a  Schubert’s  album  with  cellist  Gary  Hoffman.  They  will  release  a  recording  of  Beethoven’s  Early  Quartets  in  2016.      The  Cypress  String  Quartet  members  received  degrees  from  many  of  the  world’s  finest  conservatories  before  coming  together  as  a  quartet.  The  Cypress  takes  its  name  from  the  set  of  love  songs  for  string  quartet,  Cypresses,  by  Antonin  Dvořák.      For  more  information,  visit  www.cypressquartet.com.