“This vibrant group has made a Kronos-like commitment to a 20th century music all over the artistic map – serialism, evocations of folk and pop music from around the world, American classics and European neo- romanticism” (Gavin Borchert / Seattle Weekly)
Formed in 1999, ODEONQUARTET (their preferred spelling) is comprised of distinguished artists who are dedicated to presenting concerts of the highest artistic quality and building new audiences for chamber music through performances and educational outreach programs.
Featuring artists Gennady Filimonov (violin), Artur Girsky (violin), Heather Bentley (viola), and Rowena Hammill (cello), ODEONQUARTET present work that reflects the diversity found in American and International musical styles, including fresh and imaginative performances of standard and lesser known masterpieces. Their musical journey often leads to unusual repertoire, performing music that weaves in threads of tango, American prison blues, Persian folk music, jazz and minimalism, among others. The quartet feels equally as comfortable playing repertoire such as Mozart, Sibelius, Ravel and Shostakovitch. Spending the past few years at the forefront of groundbreaking events, ODEONQUARTET has premiered dozens of commissions.
Past ensemble activities have included Lehmann Ensemble-in-Residence at Cornish College of the Arts (2001-2003), and Playing the Game (2003), a panel discussion on composition for interactive video created and produced by Gennady Filimonov. Playing the Game received national attention and featured several top composers in the gaming industry: Alistair Hirst, Marty O’Donnell, Jeremy Soule, Ben Houge and Scott Selfon. Moderated by two time Emmy-Award winning film score composer Hummie Mann, discussion topics included: linear music elements, non-linear elements (game play), compositional elements, programming elements, sound elements/sound design, and internet-based game play. Playing the Game was sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and was co-hosted by the Seattle Composer’s Alliance and Cornish College of the Arts. In 2006, ODEONQUARTET opened the Earshot Jazz Festival along with Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas Quartet and Bill Frisell, as the first string quartet to perform in Seattle’s Triple Door night club.
ODEONQUARTET has received support from the King County Arts Commission as well as NEA: American Masterpieces Chamber Music. Additionally, they have been guests of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Belle Arte Chamber Music Series, Olympic Chamber Music Festival, and the Lopez Center for the Arts in San Juan Islands, among others. The quartet has also been instrumental in helping launch several prominent chamber music series including: Sound Currents, Simple Measures & the Pilchuck Chamber Music Series.
Other appearances have included Benaroya Hall, KCTS/PBS, the Gala opening of Experience the Music Project, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Under Forte Series, KING FM, KSER, and KUOW/NPR. They have collaborated with Bruce Adolph (narator & piano), Natalya Ageyeva (piano), Eric Barber (Sax), Lisa Bergman (piano), Colorado String Quartet, Alan Dameron (piano), Laurie DeLuca (clarinet), Bill Frisell (guitar), Natalie Lerch, soprano, Peter Mack, piano, Roger Nelson, Eyvind Kang (viola), Carla Kihlstedt (violin), Peggy Lee (cello), Ron Miles (trumpet), Amy Rubin (piano), Tom Swafford (jazz violin), Paul Taub (flute) Cristina Valdes (piano) and Craig Weaver (cello).
Recent tours have included Odessa, Ukraine, as well as the Bridging the Cultural Gap tour to Moscow, Russia (2010), where they appeared at Rachmaninoff Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, as well as an appearance at DOM MUSIKI.
Since 2002 ODEONQUARTET has had an exclusive artist endorsement agreement with Connolly & Co., Inc on behalf of Thomastik-Infeld company (manufacturers of superior strings for the violin family). ODEONQUARTET joins the roster of accomplished professionals which include the legendary Pinchas Zukerman, Ann-Sophie Mutter, Modern String Quartet, Turtle Island String Quartet, Chee Yun, American String Quartet, and Hilary Hahn, among others.
ODEONQUARTET is dedicated to nurturing the human spirit by promoting and perpetuating greater understanding through music.
ODEONQUARTET 