Eva Gruser and Robin Mayforth, violins

Anna Kruger, viola

Astrid Schween, cello

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The Lark Quartet, winner of the 1990 Naumburg Chamber Music Award, was a New York-based, all female string quartet that operated from 1985 to 2019. It is acknowledged for its distinguished contribution to the string quartet repertoire, commissioning new works from some of America's most celebrated composers. Most notably, Aaron Jay Kernis' two string quartets: Quartet no. 1 Musica celestis and Quartet no. 2 Musica instrumentalis, which received the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. The Lark Quartet served as Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2004 - 2008. The Quartet recorded numerous albums on multiple labels including Decca/Argo, Arabesque, Bridge, ERI, Endeavor and Koch.

Founded in 1985, the quartet included Kay Stern and Robin Mayforth, violins; Anna Kruger, viola and Laura Sewell, cello.

The Lark Quartet disbanded at the end of the 2018-2019 season, concluding 34 years as an ensemble. Their farewell recording, A Farewell Celebration, features commissioned works by composers including John Harbison, Kenji Bunch, Anna Weesner and Andrew Waggoner, was released in 2019. At the time of disbanding, the Quartet included Deborah Buck and Basia Danilow, violins; Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Caroline Stinson, cello.

As part of its Naumburg prize, the Lark Quartet was awarded a commissioned work by Aaron Jay Kernis, String Quartet ("musica celestis"). The work was given its world premiere on the Lark's Naumburg concert that took place on November 13, 1990 in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

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Naumburg concert, November 13, 1990, Alice Tuly Hall, Lincoln Center

The Lark String Quartet, 1990 Chamber Music Award

Eva Gruser and Robin Mayforth, violins; Anna Kruger, viola and Astrid Schween, cello

Program

Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Aaron Jay Kernis:  String Quartet ("musica celestis") World premiere - commissioned by the Naumburg Foundation

Beethoven: Quartet, Op. 59, No. 1

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