Miró Quartet to celebrate 30th birthday

GRAMMY-nominated Texas-based ensemble, the Miró Quartet is set to celebrate its 30^th anniversary in 2025. Based in Austin, TX, the Miró Quartet has performed internationally for nearly three decades and, since 2003, has served as the quartet-in-residence at the University of Texas’ Austin Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music.

Formed in 1995, the Miró Quartet takes its name and inspiration from the Spanish Surrealist artist Joan Miró. As well as winning first prize at competitions including the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Naumburg Chamber Music Competition, the quartet has given master classes at universities and conservatories throughout the world.

Celebrating their upcoming anniversary, the Quartet said: ‘Over the past 30 years the Miró has won over audiences worldwide and worked hard to become America’s most beloved string quartet. When we reflect over those years together, we are overcome by immense gratitude to have had each other as artistic partners for such a long time, for the deep relationships we have formed over this time with one another and our audience, and the joyful appreciation for the ever-inspiring music we play, whether it be Beethoven or Schubert, Ginastera or Caroline Shaw.’

The 30^th anniversary follows the May 2024 release of the Quartet’s latest album, Home, on PENTATONE. The album explores the meaning of ‘home’ through new commissions by Kevin Puts and Caroline Shaw as well as existing works by George Walker and Samuel Barber.

The Quartet added: ‘I think a major part of our staying power as a quartet has come both personally and artistically from our firm commitment to always value each of our own individual personalities equally as much as our group identity. Both musically and in our lives outside the quartet this brings balance and respect to our relationships. In our performances this means every voice and line is given its full power to express and emote and live from beginning to end.’

In its anniversary year, the quartet is set to appear at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Clark Library in Los Angeles, Music@Menlo, Denver Friends of Chamber Music, Chamber Music Detroit, Chamber Music Sedona, Chamber Music Tulsa, String Theory at the Hunter and Hunter Museum of American Art, Music Toronto, International Classical Concerts, Chamber Music Hamilton, Texas Cellos, Northwestern University, BIG ARTS, Blanco Performing Arts, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at James Madison University and more.

Looking back across the last three decades, the Quartet said:  ‘As young musicians we were constantly critical of ourselves and striving to ever improve our craft, our level of intensity and virtuosity. Now after 30 years of immersing ourselves in this repertoire there is a comfort and ease we feel as a quartet as well as a new boldness and daring to take artistic risks onstage that has deepened our interpretations. We feel and know this music, like you know the handshake of an old friend.’

As part of their milestone season, the Miró Quartet will also be launching new collaborations with saxophonist and actor Steven Banks and bass-baritone Joseph Parrish.

Talking about the future, the Quartet said: ‘There are still new quartets for us to play, new pieces to commission and tour, and still new places to travel around the world to share our music. We look forward to this our fourth decade together with an excitement for all our new projects planned as well as a feeling of pride and accomplishment for such 30 amazing years of artistic fulfillment.’