In this edition of “Meet the Artist,” we delve into the captivating realm of The Poiesis Quartet, a group of exceptionally talented musicians who have taken the classical music scene by storm. Virtuosos in their respective instruments, the quartet has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their lyrical compositions, exquisite performances, and a deep passion for creating emotion-evoking, soul-stirring music!
We’ve asked the quartet to answer a few questions to help us get to know them better. Join us, as we explore the fascinating journey of The Poiesis Quartet, from their origins to the unique inspirations that shape their sonic tapestry.
How did the quartet meet and/or form?
We all met and formed at Oberlin, in the advanced string quartet seminar. Originally, Sarah and Drew were planning on playing in a piano trio, but when they couldn’t find a pianist who wanted to join, they asked Jasper and Max if they wanted to play quartet instead!
What do you look forward to the most when performing for live audiences?
Whenever we perform, we enter a zone where we’re all as focused, creative, and sensitive as we can be, and that feeling of being totally immersed in the music is what we love about performing together and really look forward to.
What is the most challenging piece in your current repertoire and why?
At the moment, our hardest piece is Brahms Quartet No. 1. It has to have a certain level of mechanical accuracy to work well, but also is so unbelievably expressive, and contains such vivid characters. Maintaining control of technical aspects, while expressing the turbulent emotional qualities of the piece, as they shift from anxiety, devastation, beauty, and elation has served to be a great challenge.
How do you stay motivated throughout a demanding season?
Max: At the end of the day, I always come back to how amazing this music is and how lucky I am to be able to play it with such amazing people! It is always so rewarding to share a piece of art that we have worked so hard on with an audience who is excited to experience it.
What do members of the quartet enjoy doing in their free time?
Drew is currently on a 420 streak on Duolingo, Max Ball is a huge fan of cooking and eating, Sarah spends all their time making Instagram content for the Poiesis Quartet, and Jasper loves sleeping, lying down, sitting on the couch, and other such relaxing activities.
Sarah: I promise, I have other interests outside of Instagram. Although, being the quartet’s social media manager does take up a lot of time.
We want to thank the Poiesis Quartet for taking the time to share more about themselves and their music. Get your tickets now to enjoy an evening of chamber music that’s sure to impress on Wednesday, January 17, at 7:30 p.m.!
January 17, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
The Poiesis Quartet
The Poiesis Quartet is the 2023 Grand Prize winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Founded at Oberlin Conservatory, the exciting ensemble also took Fischoff’s Senior Strings Gold Medal and the Lift Every Voice prize for best performance of a piece by a historically underrepresented chamber music composer.
