Santiago Quartet

SANTIAGO QUARTET REPRESENTS THE CONTINUATION OF A MISSION WHICH BEGAN IN MERIDA, MEXICO IN 2005 Originally Cuarteto Genesis, the group took the name Santiago Quartet when two of its founding members moved to England after several years with the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra. Whilst working in Mexico, the musicians discovered a repertoire that is rarely or never performed in the United Kingdom. They collaborated with the renowned Yucatecan guitarist Cecilio Perera. Their interest in exploring this music led to performances with the Grammy Award winning Cuarteto Latinoamericáno, and at the 2008 International Chamber Music Festival in Mexico City's Bellas Artes Theatre. LATIN PERSPECTIVE... Santiago Quartet's first album, Latin Perspective, a collaboration with Cuban guitarist Ahmed Dickinson, received outstanding reviews in Gramophone and Songline Magazines. Performances included upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s as part of Classical Kicks, Guildford International Music Festival, Guildford Spring Music Festival, St.Martin in the Fields, Bolivar Hall and with the singer-songwriter Ana Silvera at the Purcell Room and live on Radio 3. After personnel changes which led to a new beginning for the group, the Santiago Quartet, along with founding member and cellist Jonathan Hennessey-Brown, reaffirmed their intention both to bring vibrant performances to audiences and play an active role in the education of young musicians. Amongst other engagements, the Quartet workshops with young musicians at the Jewish Free School in West London every year, advising them on their A/S and A Level compositions and recording their pieces. The Quartet has received exceptional feedback from this project. AND NOW... 2016 started with two packed out recitals. The first in Guildford on January the 9th at Holy Trinity Church, and the second on the 16th at the West Wight Chamber Music Festival on the Isle of Wight. On both occasions the programme featured works from the U.K. in the first half and Latin America after the interval. "Thank you all so much for a terrific concert last night, really enjoyed by a capacity audience as you will have gathered. It was very refreshing to have a change of “normal” repertoire" (Judith Hunt, West Wight Chamber Music Festival) Current projects include some exciting school workshops, including our annual visit to the Jewish Free School, a collaboration with Bandoneon player Julian Rowlands and preparation for our second album. SECOND ALBUM... The Quartet is currently in the developmental stages of recording a second album with Quindecim Records. The main body of this album will be in collaboration with the Argentinian Bandoneon player César Olguin. Olguin is known not only for his virtuosic, thoughtful musicianship, but his haunting arrangements of Tangos by Piazzolla and other Latin American composers are significant in developing the popularity of this music. Several of the works he has provided for the Santiago Quartet’s album, which he will also record with the group, are just one example of repertoire that no other Quartet in the UK owns or performs. Another featured work on the forthcoming album, a commission by Will Todd, is also exclusive to the Quartet. Todd’s 2012 work Call of Wisdom premiered at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, subsequently topping the Classic FM Charts. Love Song, the middle movement from his Birthday Quartet, is similarly approachable and attractive. The album will also feature an exclusive instrumental version of a surprise track by a world famous artist which will be arranged and co-produced by Nick Ingman. A percentage of proceeds will go to the mental health charity MIND, who have agreed to support and endorse the project. LOOKING FORWARD... The Quartet is planning a series of concerts to fit with César Olguin’s visit to the UK. This will be a unique chance for audiences to hear the Quartet in collaboration with this world-class Bandoneon player, performing his exclusive and exciting arrangements of this increasingly sought-after music. This opportunity will be limited to the middle of February 2017, in the run-up to recording. There will be a collection for MIND at each concert.