Jonathan Ong & Dorothy Ro, violins; Abigail Rojansky, viola; Jonathan Dormand, cello
Hailed by The New York Times as an “outstanding ensemble,” the Verona Quartet is dedicated to showcasing the art form of the string quartet and to elevating their music making to convey the poetic narrative of storytelling. The Quartet’s members represent four different nations (United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Canada), but their singular approach and unanimity of purpose in both musical and cultural cooperation has quickly earned the group a reputation for its “interpretive strength… robust characterization [and] commanding resonance” (Calgary Herald).
Since winning the 2015 Concert Artists Guild Competition, the Verona Quartet has established itself as one of the most sought-after string quartets of its generation, delighting audiences at venues worldwide including Wigmore Hall (London, UK), Izumi Hall (Osaka, Japan), the National Theatre (Abu Dhabi, UAE), Melbourne Recital Hall (Melbourne, Australia), and, in New York City, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Its progressive approach to collaboration and programming includes numerous cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary enterprises. Past projects have included a performance art installation with visual artist Ana Prvacki, artistic exchange with traditional Emirati poets in the UAE, and collaborative work with dancers from Brooklyn’s Dance Heginbotham.
Among its many accolades, the Verona Quartet have been D’Addario Artists since 2017 and can be seen regularly on The Violin Channel as Violin Channel Artists. In addition to being named by Musical America as “New Artists of the Month” in May 2016, the group has garnered worldwide recognition by winning top prizes at international competitions across four continents including the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition (London), the 8th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (Japan), and the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Australia), in addition to its CAG victory in 2015. The Quartet is currently the quartet-in-residence at the New England Conservatory of Music’s Professional String Quartet Training program, under the mentorship of Paul Katz, and has previously studied at The Juilliard School under the Juilliard String Quartet and David Finckel, as well as at Indiana University under the Pacifica Quartet. Other notable mentors include Atar Arad, Donald Weilerstein, Martha Katz, Alex Kerr, Miriam Fried, Kim Kashkashian, and Gerhard Schulz.
The Verona Quartet’s “thoughtful, impressive” performances (Cleveland Classical) spring from the spirit and power of storytelling. The Quartet believes that the essence of storytelling transcends genre and so the name “Verona” pays tribute to William Shakespeare, one of the greatest storytellers of all time.