Media contact: Shannon Thomason
Enjoy a free performance featuring The Balourdet Quartet presented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.
The Alys Stephens Center presents its Concert Artist Guild Series to empower musicians and help them attain sustainable, unique and relevant careers. This event is free with registration and open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Space is limited; register online.
The Balourdet Quartet, based in Boston, Massachusetts, was formed in 2018 at Rice University in Houston, Texas, under the tutelage of James Dunham, Norman Fischer and Cho-Liang Lin. The Balourdet’s award-winning members are violinists Angela Bae and Justin DeFilippis, violaist Banjamin Zannoni, and celloist Russel Houston. Their program is mix of familiar works by Beethoven, Debussy, Haydn and more.
The Balourdet received the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition; the 2021 Premio Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition in Reggio Emilia, Italy; the Gold Medal in the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition; the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the 2021 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition; and second prize in the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition.
The quartet has performed with reputable artists including Cho-Liang Lin and members of the Dover Quartet and has studied and performed at festivals including the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute and Accademia Musicale Chigiana. Highlights of The Balourdet’s 2022-23 season include appearances at Chamber Music Detroit, the Grand Piano Series in Naples, Florida, NEC’s Jordan Hall, Merkin Hall, and Wigmore Hall.
The quartet’s name comes from Antoine Balourdet, chef extraordinaire at the Hotel St. Bernard and beloved member of the Taos School of Music community. The quartet is currently in residence at the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program.