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The Phoenix Quartet believes that song, with its melding of poetry and music, creates community and celebrates life. The Quartet was founded in 2002 as an ensemble that would explore the vast vocal quartet repertoire and bring it to the public in unique settings and innovative formats. It is dedicated to not only performing music composed or arranged for vocal quartet, but also to commissioning new music. The Phoenix Quartet’s first performances were fundraising soirees that successfully introduced a diverse group of listeners to the musical and dramatic possibilities of vocal quartet repertoire. In this venue, the ensemble developed an intimate performance style of fully memorized and staged programs of widely varied repertoire that it has successfully transferred to larger venues.
In 2003, the Phoenix Quartet made its official New York City Debut in a concert at Bargemusic and followed its success there with a performance on the Christ Chapel Chamber Series of the Riverside Church in New York City. The following year, the Quartet performed Copland’s Old American Songs with the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony and continued its intimate soiree series, expanding its repertoire to include ensembles from contemporary American chamber operas and musicals.
The Phoenix Quartet reached a major milestone in 2004, when it launched its “Works in Progress” series and introduced its first commissioned work for vocal quartet, Ascension, with words and music by Richard Pearson Thomas, soon followed by a second commissioned work, Four Negro Spirituals arranged by K. Scott Warren.
The Phoenix Quartet
The Phoenix Quartet is dedicated to
...performing music composed or arranged for vocal quartet
...commissioning new music for vocal quartet
...conducting educational outreach.
Vocal music is an especially powerful form of communication that can encourage a better understanding of the struggles and achievements that define people and can develop values that sustain people in life’s experiences. It has a unique power to create community. Throughout its rich cultural history and directly because of its melding of poetry and music, vocal music has had a place in all celebrations of life - to herald new life, mourn the passing of life, mark holidays, and to explore the human condition.
For repertoire and booking information, please contact Debra Poulter, Artistic Director
Phoenix Quartet
(212) 222-2064 or click here
The Phoenix Quartet is proud to be a member of
Chamber Music America
The Phoenix Quartet is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation and donations are tax-deductible as determined by law.
Winter 2002 - Spring 2005
Soirees concerts
New York Debut: Bargemusic
May 2003
Performance with the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony
February 2004
Tappan Zee High School Educational Outreach program
April 27, 2005
South Country Concerts, Bellport, Long Island
November 6, 2005
Trinity Concerts at One Series, Trinity Church, Wall Street
October 27, 2005
Phoenix Quartet Highlights
The Phoenix Quartet Mission
The Phoenix Quartet believes that song, with its melding of poetry and music, creates community and celebrates life. We are dedicated to enriching audiences by performing music composed or arranged for the vocal quartet, commissioning new music for vocal quartet, and conducting educational outreach.
March, 2006
Soiree concert featuring The Open Door , Theodore Wiprud
2003 - 2007: Annual Performances
March 11, 2007
Second Sundays Concert Series, Park Avenue Methodist Church, NY City
