New SFFCM affiliate, the Afiara String Quartet combines concertizing with educational outreach as two vital parts of their artistic mission. Comprised of Valerie Li (violin), Yuri Cho (violin), David Samuel (viola), and Adrian Fung (cello), the all-Canadian quartet takes its name from the Spanish a fiara, meaning “in it trusted”. The quartet likens chamber music to a conversation between friends, and has found that trusting each other is vital to the depth and joy of their music-making, both in rehearsal and on stage.

The group’s violist, David Samuel describes how the group came together. “Several of us met as teenagers, while performing with the Toronto Youth Symphony, then went of to various East Coast schools including Juilliard, Peabody Conservatory, New England Conservatory and Mannes School of Music. The group’s members reconnected in San Francisco, and formed the Afiara Quartet in the Summer of 2006.” Augmenting their already considerable instrumental ensemble skills at the San Francisco Conservatory’s Graduate Chamber Music Program, the ensemble now benefits from mentoring relationships with long-established string quartets—the likes of the Alexander String Quartet and contemporary music mavericks, the Kronos Quartet. They are currently in residence at San Francisco State University’s Morrison Center for Chamber Music as assistants to the Alexander String Quartet.

Last season the Quartet had their New York premiere at St. Luke’s, a program curated by the Kronos Quartet and presented by Chamber Music America. They also appeared at Carnegie Hall in the “Kronos: Signature Works” series, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, and an appearance locally with San Francisco Performances. The group is very excited about the recording of its forthcoming first CD of perennial quartet masterworks including: Haydn Op. 77 #1, Bartok 2nd Quartet, and Mendelssohn Op. 44, #1. Of their repertoire, violinist Lee says “We are open to doing everything, but have concentrated mostly on standards. It just so happens that lately we’ve done a lot of new works. David Harrington (of the Kronos Quartet) has been very supportive and helpful to us.” “Being a relatively new quartet,” violinist Cho added, “we are playing works that help develop a group sound. But from there, we move on to more romantic and contemporary works –Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Bartok– that are perhaps a bit more challenging.”

Committed to education Fung explains, the Quartet’s “is not only introduce young people to their instruments, but more importantly, to breed an interest in this classical genre. We think it’s important for our future and the future of chamber music for groups to do outreach.” Upcoming activities include teaching and performing as a faculty ensemble at Chamber Music of the Rockies in June. With their combination of concertizing, educational outreach, and the support of veteran quartets who came before them, chamber music lovers should keep an eye out for this dynamic and up-and-coming ensemble. For more information, visit the group’s website, www.afiara.com.

Patrick Francis (published in SFFCM's May 2007 newsletter)

N.B. The information contained in this article was correct at time of publication. Please refer to the date the article appeared in our newsletter.