Euclid Quartet PLAIN TEXT BIOGRAPHIES current as of October 2009 www.euclidquartet.net Represented by: Lisa Sapinkopf Artists 800.923.1973 LSapinkopf@aol.com Members: Jameson Cooper, violin Jacob Murphy, violin Luis Enrique Vargas, viola Si-Yan Darren Li, cello Contents: Group Biography - Short Group Biography - Medium Group Biography - Long Jameson Cooper Biography Jacob Murphy Biography Luis Vargas Biography Si-Yan Darren Li Biography GROUP BIOGRAPHY - SHORT The Euclid Quartet is a dynamic ensemble known for performances filled with personality and vibrant color. Originally from the U.S., Great Britain, Venezuela, and China, they have won many prizes at major competitions around the world, and hold the prestigious Quartet Residency at Indiana University South Bend. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review raved: "The impressiveness of the Euclid Quartet extended to all the styles ... [Their] emotional and timbral richness... brought to mind the old-world approach of the Guarneri Quartet... devoted, expert and exhilarating." Ara Guzelimian, Artistic Advisor of Carnegie Hall, praised their "wonderful intensity, insight, and communicative strength." GROUP BIOGRAPHY - MEDIUM The Euclid Quartet is one of the most well-regarded chamber ensembles of its generation, whose performances are filled with passion, virtuosity, and sensitivity. Taking its name from Euclid Avenue, at the cultural heart of Cleveland, this award-winning group currently holds the prestigious residency at Indiana University South Bend. The eclectic mixture of the quartet members represents four continents of the world, and inspires programs that celebrate the quartet's diverse international heritage. The group also combines new and challenging works with the established masterpieces to create varied and exciting programs. From Piazzolla and Hindson to Beethoven and Bartók, the quartet lends its unique voice to all styles. The quartet has performed to high acclaim across the country – at appearances including Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, the Aspen Music Festival, Merkin Hall, and the National Gallery – and has won top prizes at several prestigious competitions, including the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition as well as Hugo Kauder, Carmel, and Yellow Springs competitions. They have also commissioned works from several noted composers and given many world premieres. The Quartet was recently awarded an American Masterpieces grant from the NEA for its innovative educational programming. The group has pioneered numerous projects including roles as Musical Explorers at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, commissioning “Symphonies of String Instruments” for quartet and student string orchestras, and a friendly introduction to the world of the Bartok string quartets entitled "Bartók/Bar-Talk." GROUP BIOGRAPHY - FULL Praised by the Washington Post for their “elegant mix of passion, ferocity and feathery delicacy” Hailed by the Denver Post for their “electric” playing The Euclid Quartet, a dynamic ensemble known for performances filled with personality and vibrant color, is recognized as one of the most well-regarded chamber ensembles in its generation. Captivating audiences and critics ranging from Carnegie Hall to school classrooms to radio and television broadcasts, the quartet has performed to great acclaim across the country. The highlights of the Euclid Quartet's career include its significant international recognition as the only American string quartet to be awarded a top prize at the prestigious Osaka International Chamber Music Competition since 1993. Prior to its victory in Japan, the quartet also won numerous competitions in the U.S., such as the Hugo Kauder International Competition for String Quartets and Carmel Chamber Music Competition. Most recently, the Euclid Quartet has been awarded the prominent “American Masterpieces” grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The eclectic mixture of the quartet members – Jameson Cooper, Jacob Murphy, Luis Vargas, and Si-Yan Darren Li – represents four continents of the world. They are originally from Great Britain, the U.S., Venezuela, and China. Formed in Ohio in 1998, the Euclid Quartet takes its name from the famous Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, home to a wealth of artistic and cultural institutions. Within three years, the group became one of only three ensembles awarded the String Quartet Fellowship to participate at the Aspen Music Festival, where the quartet was invited to return for the summer concert season in 2006. In addition, the Euclid Quartet has appeared in other festivals, including the Kent/Blossom Festival, the Orford Music Festival, and the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. Apart from performing string quartets, the Euclid Quartet has also collaborated with internationally renowned artists, such as Joseph Silverstein, Jennifer Ringo, and members of the Cleveland Quartet. In 2007, the Euclid Quartet was appointed the Quartet-in-Residence at Indiana University South Bend, where the four of them teach private lessons and coach chamber music. The quartet is committed to exposing young audiences to the joy of chamber music, and frequently performs programs tailored towards children, including a series of performances as “musical explorers” at Carnegie Hall. The Euclid Quartet is dedicated to performing contemporary music and endorsing living composers in the 21st century. The group has commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers, such as Dan Welcher, Armando Bayolo, and James Leatherbarrow. Their debut CD on Centaur Records features the work of Hugo Kauder, a little-known Jewish composer from Vienna who sought refuge in the U.S. from the Nazis. The Euclid Quartet is represented by Lisa Sapinkopf Artists. MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES JAMESON COOPER Jameson Cooper, originally from Sheffield, England, began playing the violin at age 6. At 13 he joined the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and later became concertmaster of the National Youth Chamber Orchestra. He studied with Malcolm Layfield and Wen Zhou Li at The Royal Northern College of Music, where he earned a Graduate of Music Degree with Honors and a Professional Performance Diploma. Mr. Cooper first came to the U.S. as a participant in the Aspen Music Festival. Since then, he has studied with Dorothy DeLay, Masao Kawasaki, and Roland and Almita Vamos. He earned Masters Degrees in Violin and Conducting from Kent State University, where he later served as Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at the University's Hugh A. Glauser School of Music. He has performed as soloist with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and Europe. In the 2001-02 season, Jameson played in the Audubon Quartet in its Beethoven Quartet cycle series. Recipient of numerous prizes, including the Prince's Trust Award, and first prize in the Tuesday Musical Club of Akron and Kent State University Concerto Competitions, Mr. Cooper has also recorded Icelandic music for Musart, and new music by Kent State University composers on Innova. Jameson has given masterclasses at Virginia Tech, Michigan State University, and Morningside College, and is a former faculty member of the Lyceum Music School of Oldham, England. JACOB MURPHY A founding member of the Euclid Quartet, Jacob Murphy hails from Fresno, California. He began his violin studies at the age of 6, and soon earned acclaim as soloist with the Kings Symphony Orchestra and the Fresno Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a recipient of the Fresno Arts Council Horizon Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts. Mr. Murphy continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, where he received his B.M. in 1998. He then attended Kent State University as a graduate assistant, where he received his M.M. in 2000. His principal teachers included Charles Castleman, Gregory Fulkerson, Camilla Wicks, and Claudia Shiuh. He attended such festivals as the Heidelberg (Germany) Castle Festival, the Quartet Program at Bucknell University, Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and the Orford Arts Centre. On top of being an accomplished quartet musician, Mr. Murphy has made a point of gaining knowledge and expertise in all styles of classical music. He has performed with a baroque period performance ensemble, which was led by the famous lutenist Paul O'Dette. On the other side of the spectrum, Jacob has also been involved with several new music ensembles, and has recorded contemporary music for the Innova label. LUIS ENRIQUE VARGAS Luis Enrique Vargas, violist, is a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He began viola lessons at age 14, studying at the Vicente Emilio Sojo and the Simon Bolivar Conservatories of Music in Venezuela. Throughout his career, Mr. Vargas has studied with many internationally known musicians. Among them are Jose Manuel Roman, Richard Young, Gerard Causee, Li-Kuo Chang, James Dunham, Michael Tree, Earl Carlyss, and the Vermeer and Emerson string quartets. In his native land, he was an active performer and educator and was part of the internationally acclaimed “Sistema” of the Venezuelan National Youth Orchestra, collaborating with its expansion and educative mission in remote regions of Venezuela. He was a member of the Venezuelan Lara State and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestras. He toured to Brazil, Spain, and France, performing at the Festival de la Radio France et Montpellier in 1993. With the Simon Bolivar Orchestra he performed in Paris in 1995 at the UNESCO and at the Sorbonne University, and in Madrid at the Bela Bartok Concert Series. Also with them he recorded "Latin-American Lollipops," a compilation of Latin-American masterpieces on the Dorian label. Mr. Vargas has participated in several international chamber music festivals, including Aspen, Norfolk, and Great Lakes, and has performed as a chamber musician throughout the US, South America, Canada, and Europe. Mr. Vargas was the violist of the Cuarteto America (string quartet) from 1997 through 1999, during which time he pursued a Diploma in Chamber Music at Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada) and a Masters degree from Miami University of Ohio. He has been violist of the Euclid Quartet since September 2001. SI-YAN DARREN LI Si-Yan Darren Li made his professional debut at the age of nine. Since then, he has appeared in recitals and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Kennedy Center, Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore, Izumi Hall in Osaka, National Concert Hall in Taipei and the Basilica de San Lorenzo in Florence. Mr. Li has received top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians in Moscow, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, the Young Artists Competition of Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and the Second China National Cello Competition. He has also appeared in many festivals, including the Ravinia Festival, the Kronberg Academy Cello Festival in Germany, and the Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland. As an active chamber musician, Mr. Li has collaborated with renowned artists, such as Emmanuel Ax, Carter Brey, Cho-Liang Lin, Miriam Fried, Paul Katz and Lang Lang. Mr. Li began his cello studies at the age of five in China. At the age of nine, he was accepted to the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. After moving to the United States in his early teens, Mr. Li continued his cello studies with Orlando Cole in Philadelphia. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from The Juilliard School and a Master of Music Degree as well as an Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute, where he studied with Fred Sherry, Harvey Shapiro, Alan Stepansky and David Hardy. Mr. Li plays on a 1773 J.B.Guadagnini Cello, generously on loan from the private collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kei-Mei.