Oregon String Quartet
Kathryn Lucktenberg and Fritz Gearhart,
violins
Leslie Straka, viola, Steven Pologe, cello
OSQ FLYER PDF DOWNLOAD
The Oregon String Quartet, formed in 1982, is in residence at the University of
Oregon, School of Music. Committed to excellence in Performance and Music
Education, the members teach at the University of Oregon while maintaining busy
concert schedules both with the quartet and as soloists. They bring together a
wide range of musical experiences including years of chamber music collaborations
with world-renowned artists, solo appearances with major orchestras and
festivals, and principal positions with major symphonies. They have recorded on
the Koch International, CRI, Centaur, and Albany labels.
The Oregon Quartet most recently recorded a compact disc, released by Koch
Entertainment, of works by the early 20th century African-American
composer William Grant Still. The disc has been praised by the press for its
beauty as well as its significant content. Strad Magazine hailed: "MUSICAL
HEAVEN: OREGON STRING QUARTET...you will adore William Grant Still's 1960 string
quartet, especially in a performance as sumptuously voiced and stunningly
engineered as this."
The Oregon Quartet has been featured at the internationally renowned Oregon Bach
Festival, and is heard frequently on NPR. The quartet continues to enjoy
performing and recording new compositions, including most recently, works by
composers Victor Steinhardt and David Crumb.
"The Oregon String Quartet, Victor Steinhardt, and Fritz Gearhart all bring
to their performances a loving dedication and a spirit of discovery...A worthy
and engaging sampling of Still's work." Classics Today, December,
2002
"If it is new material you are looking for, there's quite a bit here. The
recently discovered Lyric Quartet of 1960 is a three-movement piece lasting 14
minutes and a beautiful one containing a more serious side of Still then we
usually get to hear...they [Oregon String Quartet] play all of this with fine
style. It is very pleasant program, and half of it can't be found
elsewhere..." American Record Guide, Sept-Oct,
2002
"The Oregon String Quartet...captures all the facets of this music,
enriching it with tonal warmth and rhythmic vitality...Gearhart and Steinhardt
are all heart...this disc is irresistible." Fanfare,
September/October 2002
"...MUSICAL HEAVEN: OREGON STRING QUATET...you will adore William Grant
Still's 1960 string quartet, especially in a performance as sumptuously voiced
and stunningly engineered as this...the nine-minute Pastorela, the first of three
pieces for violin and piano [was] played with the utmost seductive cool by the
sweet-toned and tonally beguiling Fritz Gearhart..." The
Strad, August 2002
"Still is not as well known as the others, but with any luck, this
collection might spread the word to new generations. The music here, for string
quartet and piano/violin is tonal and rich in elegant, classy melody. For those
of you who think that a string quartet is not a proper vehicle for expressing the
Blues, I direct you to Wade in the Water...Still's music is remarkable for
its dirarming simplicty, emothional directness and humanity...."
JazzReview.com,
June 28, 2002
KATHRYN LUCKTENBERG, violin, received her bachelor's degree at the Curtis
Institute of Music, studying with the renowned Ivan Galamian. While still in
school she made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a year after
graduation assumed the position of concertmaster of the Honolulu Symphony,
becoming the youngest concertmaster of a major American symphony. Lucktenberg is
a frequent performer in title positions with the Grand Teton, Marlboro and Oregon
Bach Festivals. With the Oregon String Quartet and Trio Pacifica, she has
performed in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and throughout most of the United States.
Lucktenberg has recorded on the CRI and Koch labels.
FRITZ GEARHART, violin, received his master's degree from the Eastman School of
Music where he studied with Donald Weilerstein. His earlier performances as a
member of the Chester String Quartet were widely acclaimed by the press and
singled out as a highlight of the 1989 String Quartet Congress. Mr. Gearhart has
performed in major halls around the country, and has several compact discs to his
credit, including releases on the Koch International, Albany and Centaur
labels.
LESLIE STRAKA, viola, holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from
Arizona State University where she studied with William Magers. She has performed
extensively as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and
Europe. Straka has been a featured artist at the Luzerne Chamber Music Center in
New York, Festival Miami, the Miami Bach Society, the Oregon Bach Festival, the
Mainly Mozart and Flagstaff Festivals in Arizona, and the York Festival in
England.
STEVEN POLOGE, cello, studied at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School, after which he served, for thirteen years, as principal cellist with the Honolulu Symphony. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, and in Italy, Sweden, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, and New Zealand. His recent CDs include works by Jon Deak and Lev Aleliovich. Pologe has participated annually with the Oregon-Bach Festival (as principal cellist), the Grand Teton Music Festival, and is currently on the faculty at the Killington Music Festival.
Fritz Gearhart
Photo: Gary Tepfer, 2005
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Fritz Gearhart
Photo: Gary Tepfer, 2005
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Fritz Gearhart
Photo: Gary Tepfer, 2005
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Fritz Gearhart
Photo: Gary Tepfer, 2005
B&W jpg (1.1 MB)