Emergents III: Vaso + unQuartet

The Music Gallery presents

Emergents III: Vaso + unQuartet

Part of the Emergents Series

Curated by Sara Constant

Doors 7:30pm / Concert 8pm

In the final Emergents concert of the season, Toronto players join forces to present new takes on string ensemble music.

Toronto-based trio unQuartet takes the model of the classical string quartet sound as the basis for projects in free improvisation and interdisciplinary arts. Combining their backgrounds in classical, jazz, improvised and electronic music, unQuartet members Meghan Cheng (violin), Nelson Moneo (viola) and Cheryl O (cello) have worked together since 2017 to develop new experimentations centred on spontaneous musical creation. In this concert, unQuartet will present a set of free and structured improvisations, in combination with projected visuals designed by the ensemble.

Formed in 2018 at the Scotia Festival of Music under the guidance of violinist Tim Fain and composer Philip Glass, the Vaso String Quartet brings together four musicians with a specialization in contemporary chamber music. Since then, Vaso—Aysel Taghi-Zada (violin), Hua-Chu Huang (violin), Peter Ayuso (viola), and Kellen Degnan (cello)—has worked in collaboration with performers and composers from across the Canadian and international new music scenes. In their appearance at the Music Gallery, Vaso will present a program of new music for string quartet—and, together with the members of unQuartet, bridge the gap between a classic string ensemble sound and the breadth of its experimental possibilities in music.

Accessibility note:

The event's venue, 918 Bathurst, is not currently wheelchair accessible due to stairs (two half-flights to enter the performance space, and one flight to access the washrooms).  Please contact the Music Gallery Executive Director for any accommodation requests you may have: kayla@musicgallery.org