JACJ Quartet?

Some news from the marvelous JACK Quartet: founding members Ari Streisfeld, violin, and Kevin McFarland, cello, will be leaving the group. Streisfeld has accepted a position at the University of South Carolina School of Music, where he will start a new Masters Degree in Violin Pedagogy program. McFarland has relocated to Colorado and plans to spend more time there with his longtime partner. He says that "I plan to spend more time devoted to composition, improvisation, and solo performance projects."

I feel lucky to have seen the JACK twice with the four founders, first in a magnificent program of the four Xenakis string quartets, second in a gripping performance of the Haas string quartet In iij. noct, the quartet played in darkness. After eleven years together, as their FB page says, this is a huge change for them.

I am also sure that the new configuration will be terrific. Joining them will be violinist Austin Wulliman, a founding member of the Spektral Quartet, and cellist Jay Campbell. 

From their FB page, notes on the transition:

The quartet will give its final New York performance with the original members on July 19 at the Lincoln Center Festival celebrating the music of Steve Reich, and our final performance all together will be on August 5 at the Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado. The new members will transition in during the fall performing together at the Park Avenue Armory in New York on October 30 & 31.

A fond farewell and best wishes to Ari Streisfeld and Kevin McFarland; a warm welcome to Austin Wulliman and Jay Campbell.