arts
Vega String Quartet: Emory’s First Ever Full-Time Quartet in Residence
By Andrian Putra
True to its name, the Vega String Quartet is one of the brightest stars among the new generation of chamber music ensembles. Their contemporary style, silken sound and driving excitement has attracted international attention for over a decade. The group’s performances have touched and delighted audiences throughout the United States, Asia and Europe.
The Quartet features world-class players: Wei Wei Le, violin; Jessica Wu, violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; and Guang Wang, cello -- have performed together since they met in 1986 while studying at Shanghai Conservatory. They first attracted international attention in 1987 as prize-winners at the Prague Spring International Competition. In 1991, they were invited to participate in the Paris International Music Festival and won a young artists’ prize at the 40th ARD International Music Competition in Munich.
After pursuing separate educational directions, the members reunited in 1996 at the Harid Conservatory in the United States as the Harid String Quartet. As Harid String Quartet, the foursome won first prize at the National Society of Arts and Letters String Quartet Competition, followed by first prize at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition and at the Carmel Chamber Music Competition in California. In 1999, the quartet won four of the six prizes awarded at the Bordeaux (formerly Evian) International String Quartet Competition in France.
After the Quartet made its Lincoln Center debut in 2001 The New York Times raved about their “playing that had a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along … the musicians took real risks in their music making,” and the Los Angeles Times praised their “Triumphant L.A. Debut” in 2002. Other recent engagements include performances in Paris, Cologne, Mexico City, New York, Tokyo, Vancouver and Atlanta.
They have appeared at numerous music festivals including Aspen, Mostly Mozart, Rockport, Highlands-Cashiers, Musicorda, Kingston and SummerFest La Jolla, among others. They were the quartet-in-residence at the Van Cliburn Institute and on the artist roster of Carnegie Hall’s New York City Neighborhood Concert series, and in 2003-04 they joined the Community Concerts Association touring ensembles as the only string quartet on their roster.
The quartet’s live broadcast credits include NPR’s “Performance Today”, the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. In addition, they were Emory Coca-Cola Artists-in-Residence at Emory University, performing the complete cycle of Beethoven quartets and playing and teaching throughout the community. The 2004-05 season included debut tours of Korea and Japan as well as performances at New York’s Bargemusic series and at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.
In February 2000, the group took the name, Vega String Quartet. “We decided a name change to reflect our group’s new direction and growth. We chose the name as it symbolize the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. More importantly, it sounds good,” explains Yinzi Kong.
The Quartet took a big step and relocated to Atlanta in 2004 from its former base in New York. The members loved Atlanta for its vibrancy and its emerging audiences who appreciate fine music.
“We wanted to start something here while we are young. Emory and Atlanta seems to be the perfect place for us to do so,” adds Jessica Wu, the second violinist. Starting in September 2006, the Vega String Quartet is the first ever full-time Quartet-in-Residence at Emory University.
Vega is performing a series of six concerts spread throughout the season that features some of the most dynamic, exciting and important works of the 18th and 20th centuries: the complete works for solo strings by J.S. Bach and the complete string quartets by Béla Bartók.
Besides playing concerts on campus and drawing new audiences the Emory Symphony, coaching Emory students chamber groups; playing string quartet excerpts and discussing them from the performer’s point of view guests in music performance class; and appearing in a variety of classes in other departments, discussing music’s relationship to each subject.
Despite their hectic schedule on campus, they are committed to performing as guest artists at various venues around the world. Vega is preparing to perform at Carnegie’s Weill Hall at the end of February.
For more information on Vega String Quartet, visit the group’s website: www.vegaquartet.com