Abramyan String Quartet

Since its arrival on the cultural scene in 1993, the Abramyan String Quartet has gained a reputation as an artistic ensemble of the highest rank. Termed "unfailingly musical" by the Deseret News, the repertoire of the Abramyan String Quartet includes not only the standard literature of the past, but new music---including Utah composers---as well. The Quartet has performed compositions, in some case premieres, by such eminent composers as Joan Tower, Marie Barker Nelson, Tully Cathey, Ann Hankinson, and David Crumb, and has had quartets commissioned for it by Phillip Bimstein (Meet the Composer), and Morris Rosenzweig (Koussevitsky Foundation). Its performance of December 3, 1995 was hailed by the Salt lake Tribune as one of the top ten concerts of any kind for the entire year. In a review of the ASQ's recording of "Quartet" by Rosenzweig (CRI #CD787), Fanfare Magazine wrote, "The Abramyan Quartet certainly plays the piece like its own, with feeling and understanding. Very highly recommended." Other recordings of the ASQ can be found on the Centaur and Tantara (Heritage Series) labels.

The Abramyan String Quartet has had four highly successful concert tours to Japan, its first undertaken at the official invitation of the Governor of Utah's Trade Mission to Asia in 1994. The ASQ has also been on the roster of the Utah Performing Arts Tour and has performed for enthusiastic audiences in every corner of the state. In March, 1998 the ASQ was also featured in a special EdNet production broadcast by video feed to students in seven educational centers of southern Utah.

The Abramyan String Quartet is named after and dedicated to the memory of the Utah Symphony violinist Ashot Abramyan. Consistent with his spirit, a central aspect of the Quartet's mission is to perform for under-served members of the community. As a result, more than half of the Quartet's performances have been free concerts for the elderly, troubled youth, homeless, hospital patients, and "at-risk" students. In March of 1997 the ASQ presented its first free public concert designed especially for young people at Abravanel Hall. Attended by hundreds of children and their families, the program also utilized the talents of young performing artists in the community.

In April of 2000, the Quartet was featured during the Grand Opening of Libby Gardner Concert Hall on the University of Utah campus. In addition to being hailed by the Salt Lake Tribune as being "our community's premier resident string quartet", Abramyan String Quartet has just been appointed as Resident String Quartet at the University of Utah.