Argus Quartet
The Argus Quartet returns to the American Music Festival to perform David Del Tredici’s stirring piano sextet, Bullycide, Juri Seo’s Infinite Seasons, and Christopher Theofanidis’ Conference of the Birds. Bullycide (2013) is a musical response and a memorial to violinist Tyler Clementi and 4 gay teens who committed suicide after being relentlessly bullied. Founded in 2013, Argus is dedicated to reinvigorating the audience-performer relationship through innovative concerts and diverse programming.
David Del Tredici: Bullycide
Juri Seo: Infinite Seasons
Christopher Theofanidis: Conference of the Birds
HEAR THE ARTISTS
Hear for yourself how the Argus String Quartet honors the storied chamber music traditions of the past while forging a new path forward.
Meet the Artists and Composers
Dana Kelley, viola, received her Bachelor’s of Music from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, and completed her Master’s of Music degree at the New England Conservatory. In addition to Argus, Dana frequently performs with The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, A Far Cry, and The Knights chamber orchestras.
Joann Whang, cello, was the 2010 First Prize winner at the Amsterdam Cello Biënnale Competition and has performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States. A champion of contemporary music, Joann has worked with some of the most influential composers and new music performers across the globe, including Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, Martijn Padding, Tristan Murail, and Beat Furrer.
Juri Seo seeks to write music that encompasses extreme contrast through compositions that are unified and fluid, yet complex. She merges many of the fascinating aspects of music from the past century—in particular its expanded timbral palette and unorthodox approach to structure—with a deep love of functional tonality, counterpoint, and classical form. She hopes to create music that loves, that makes a positive change in the world—however small—through the people who are willing to listen.
By commissioning, premiering, and championing works from living composers, violinist Clara Kim has quickly established herself at the forefront of her generation in the interpretation of contemporary music. Clara also dedicates much of her energy to community engagement work and education and has taught at a number of leading academic institutions.
Violinist Jason Issokson has performed as a soloist with orchestras across the world, including Aspen Concert Orchestra, Waco Symphony, Great Falls Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra di Teatro San Carlo, and the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia. Jason studied with Midori at both the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Southern California.
Ever extravagant, Del Tredici remains a forceful presence on the musical scene. "Del Tredici," said Aaron Copland, "is that rare find among composers – a creator with a truly original gift. I know of no other composer of his generation who composes music of greater freshness and daring, or with more personality."
Christopher Theofanidis has had performances by many leading orchestras from around the world, including the London Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony, the National, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Detroit Symphonies. In 2007, he was nominated for a Grammy award for best composition for his chorus and orchestra work, The Here and Now, and in 2017 for his bassoon concerto. His orchestral work, Rainbow Body, has been one of the most performed new orchestral works of the new millennium.
