Escher String Quartet to perform, share musical experience with Ashland students

ASHLAND ‒ Arts in the Ashland area will have another opportunity to shine when the Escher String Quartet makes a visit.

On Oct. 20, the Ohio-based organization will be giving a free performance at 6:30 p.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church sanctuary. The concert will include performances from Ashland and Lexington high school students who have had one-on-one instruction from members of the quartet.

The performance is part of the group's year-long residency in Ashland where the musicians will also work one-on-one with students.

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“250 students from grades 4-12 at minimum will be impacted by these interactions and concerts,” said Ashland High School Band Director Marty Kral.

“We plan to have a year-long partnership that involves in-person lessons and performances twice a year (fall and spring), coupled with virtual lessons, meetings and updates to gauge student progress, answer questions and receive advice.”

Quartet has received many accolades

Jarrod Hartzler, vice president and managing director of ESQYRE, talked about the group’s work in education.

“I’m happy to share some information on ESQYRE and the Escher Quartet,” said Hartzler. “We are one in the same be it that the quartet and I founded ESQYRE to continue the significant education residency work we were doing while I was the director of a classical music organization in Akron where the Eschers served as quartet in residence for four years.”

The string quartet has received acclaim for it musical insight while touring and performing. The group takes its name from the Dutch graphic artist, M.C. Escher, as they were inspired by Escher’s method of interplay between individual components working together to form a whole.

A former BBC New Generation Artist and recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the quartet has performed at the BBC Proms at Cadogan Hall and is a regular guest at Wigmore Hall in the U.K. The ensemble also serves as season artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

In 2021-22, the quartet toured the United States, performing at New York’s Alice Tully Hall and Rockefeller University, Washington, D.C.’s, Kennedy Center and other famous venues before returning to Wigmore Hall in London.

Group members are Adam Barnett-Hart and Brendan Speltz on the violin, Pierre LaPointe on the viola and Brook Speltz playing cello.

“The mission of ESQYRE as a non-profit classical music organization is to provide a comprehensive educational program through music performance and education for people of all ages,” said Hartzler.

Ashland High students can engage with music

Kral said that he and Hartzler have had a long-standing relationship that predates either of their current roles so this project was a natural fit to combine forces to make this residency a reality.

“Once we solidified our concept for the partnership, we met with Ashland City School’s Superintendent Dr. Doug Marrah to propose the plan,” said Kral. “He immediately understood the incredible impact this would have on our music students, the student body and the Ashland community.”

Kral also said there are some valuable lessons he thinks students will absorb during the residency.

“We want to demystify the stigma around professional musicians,” he said. “Musicians are regular people that play music for a living. While the quartet members have trained and practiced to become masters on their instruments, they were once high school orchestra members just like Ashland students.

“We want the AHS students to understand that there are viable career paths following high school for musicians. Some as performers, some as managers, some as composers, etc. Their musical journey doesn’t have to end when they graduate.”

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Escher String Quartet to perform, work with students in Ashland