ASTORIA, OR: LIBERTY THEATRE
The first stop on our tour of the Pacific Northwest is at Astoria’s historic Liberty Theatre. It was initially built in 1925, so we are thrilled to be taking part in its 100th birthday celebration!
For this occasion we will be performing Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2 and the WORLD PREMIERE of Angelique Poteat’s A Quartet of Trees .
LANGLEY, WA: WHIDBEY ISLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS
At 168 square miles, Whidbey Island comes in at an impressive number two (out of three) in the ranking of Formosa Quartet’s largest island visits this season. For this evening offshore, we are particularly excited to be performing the Washington Premiere of Angelique Poteat’s A Quartet of Trees.
BELLINGHAM, WA: COMPOSITION READINGS
Continuing our streak of bringing new string quartet works to life, we will be spending an afternoon reading and workshopping with the talented young composers at Western Washington University.
BELLINGHAM, WA: WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Following an afternoon with the composition department, we will be presenting two early and ebullient works of the 20th Century, and the Bellingham Premiere of Angelique Poteat’s A Quartet of Trees.
YPSILANTI, MI: EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY RESIDENCY
Following a season as the McAndless Distinguished Scholars in the Humanities, and the inaugural iteration of the American Mirror Project, Formosa returns to Ypsi for a chamber music bonanza featuring high school and collegiate ensembles from across Michigan!
YPSILANTI, MI: ALEXANDER RECITAL HALL
PROGRAM:
A Formosa Set: Blueish Groove*
Wynton Marsalis - String Quartet No. 1
MARLBORO, VT: MARLBORO MUSIC ARTIST RESIDENCY
Although the our quartet members live in different cities, three of us have ties to the Marlboro Music Festival. We are excited to be on campus for the first time during the off season, and will endeavor to offset what is sure to be a blistering Vermont winter with some of the sizzling new tunes we have cooking for our spring season.
NEW YORK, NY: OPUS 71 CONCERTS
Formosa quartet returns to the Upper West Side with a recital at Opus 71 Concerts (Artistically directed by our very own Matthew Cohen) with our blueish groove set and Wynton Marsalis’s String Quartet No. 1.
CHICAGO, IL: GUARNERI HALL
In March 2026, Formosa Quartet will bring the American Mirror Project to the Windy City. A world premiere piece by Chicago-based composer Paul Novak for string quartet and narration is at the heart of this program, with original texts written and performed by voices from the Chicago community.
HOUSTON, TX: MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC
We are back for episode two of our third season as Quartet-in-Residence at the Moores School of Music, and thrilled to be reconnecting with the wonderful students and our friends and colleagues on the faculty.
CALGARY, AB: CALGARY PRO MUSICA
PROGRAM:
Bach - Selections from Art of the Fugue
Britten - String Quartet No. 1 in D major
A Formosa Set*
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements. Musical surprises to be expected and works will be announced from the stage!
TAIWAN TOUR
The exalted stinky tofu of Taiwan is said to be pungent enough to have an olfactory half life of over a year…which means our noses and tastebuds are now telling us they are almost ready for our next trip across the Pacific. For the first time, our American Mirror program is coming with us to explore cross-cultural intersections and the ways in which, even when far from its home, a mirror can facilitate reflection of one’s self and community.
KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN: WEIWUYING RECITAL HALL
Program
Shelley Washington - SAY
A Formosa Set: Blueish Groove*
Wynton Marsalis - String Quartet No. 1
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements. Musical surprises to be expected and works will be announced from the stage!
TAIPEI, TAIWAN: NATIONAL RECITAL HALL
Program
Shelley Washington - SAY
A Formosa Set: Blueish Groove*
Wynton Marsalis - String Quartet No. 1
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements. Musical surprises to be expected and works will be announced from the stage!
IRVINE, CA: PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY
PROGRAM:
Shelley WASHINGTON: SAY
DVOŘÁK: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American”: II. Lento
Muddy WATERS: Mannish Boy
GERSHWIN: I Got Rhythm
Formosa Quartet: Red Pick
Traditional: Cherokee Shuffle
Benny GOODMAN: Rachel’s Dream
Wynton MARSALIS: String Quartet No. 1
HOUSTON, TX: TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL (Copy)
Formosa Quartet kicks off the summer season on home turf at the Texas Music Festival hosted by the University of Houston.
WATERLOO, ON: NYO CANADA
As usual, we are eager to head into the thick of the summer season by heading up to our home away from home to be with the wonderful students and faculty of NYO Canada. With state of the art facilities, cutting edge programming, and a formidable administrative team, musical possibilities, like the poutine, are endless.
HIGHLANDS, NC: HIGHLANDS CASHIERS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
We are excited to be capping off our summer seasons with our Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music debut. We’ll be forming one half of a string quartet double header in the Mendelssohn Octet, as well as a menagerie of string quartet delights.
HOUSTON, TX: DUDLEY RECITAL HALL
Our opening concert of the season features the world premiere of Sitting on the Clouds by Shi-Hui Chen. Her new work explores the intersection of the modern world with bird migration patterns. Houston’s location along the North American Central Flyway makes it a special place to experience this piece, with many avian species overhead making their way south.
HOUSTON, TX: VIOLA MASTERCLASS
Formosa Quartet’s Matthew Cohen leads a masterclass/guided tour through the wide wide (and ever expanding) world of music for solo viola. The combination of Matt’s heroic and virtuosic mission to annex both the violin and cello repertoires and the fearlessness of Moores’s violists will guarantee the flying of sparks.
HOUSTON, TX: CELLO MASTERCLASS
Don’t miss our very own Debbie Pae working with the mighty UH cellists in plumbing truth from the depths of the music, and depth of tone from the uniquely sonorous violoncello.
HOUSTON, TX: VIOLIN MASTERCLASS
Join Jasmine, David and University of Houston students for a deep dive into the violin repertoire. In this two hour masterclass, we will explore the musical nooks and crannies, confront the technical ins and outs, and turn over all of the metaphorical stones.
HOUSTON, TX: MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Formosa Quartet kicks of its 2025-2026 season on home turf with our Moores School of Music family!
WATERLOO, ON: XENIA WORKSHOP
To strengthen the musical explorations at NYO, Formosa Quartet is partnering with Xenia Concerts in a special workshop and performance addressing the interpersonal skills, atmosphere of inclusivity, and attention to mental health that form the foundation of a successful collaboration.
For more info on Xenia Concerts, visit https://xeniaconcerts.com/
WATERLOO, CA: NYO CANADA RECITAL
For our recital at NYO, we are excited to debut a playlist of music by Bach, Britten, and favorites written by and for the Formosa Quartet. Kurtág’s work …rapell des oiseaux… will be recalling the recently crowned official bird of Kitchener-Waterloo, the Dark Eyed Junco.
PROGRAM:
Bach - Contrapunctus I
Britten - String quartet No. 1 in D major
Bach - Contrapunctus III
Cage - “Funeral Anthem” from Apartment House 1776
Cherokee Shuffle (Arr. FQ/Ben Russell)
Lin - Red pick
Lin - Story
Kurtág - …rappel des oiseaux… from Moment Musicaux
Lafourcade - Nunca es Suficiente (arr. Clancy Newman)
Bach - Contrapunctus IX
Seidenberg- Bach’s Lunch
WATERLOO, CA: FORMOSA + PENDERECKI QUARTETS
PROGRAM:
Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080
Contrapuntus I
Contrapunctus XIII
Contrapunctus III
Contrapunctus IX
George Enescu: Octet for strings in C Major, Op. 7
WATERLOO, ON: NYO CANADA
We are always eager to cap off the season with two weeks with the wonderful students at NYO Canada, our home away from home. With state of the art facilities, cutting edge programming, and a formidable administrative team, musical possibilities, like the poutine, are endless.
WATERLOO, ON: QuartetFest
We are thrilled to continue our summer by working with some talented young string quartets at Laurier University’s QuartetFest. To cap off the week, we will join the Penderecki String Quartet for Enescu’s monumental Octet, Op. 7.
HOUSTON, TX: TMF RECITAL
PROGRAM:
Prokofiev: Quintet in G minor, Op. 39
A Formosa Quartet Set
HOUSTON, TX: TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Formosa Quartet kicks off the summer season on home turf at the Texas Music Festival hosted by the University of Houston.
CHATHAM, NY: LYRICA CHAMBER MUSIC
We look forward to performing with pianist and co-artistic director of Lyrica Chamber Music, David Kaplan, described by The New York Times as “excellent and adventurous,” and praised by the Boston Globe for his “grace and fire” at the keyboard. The program will feature music by Haydn, Dana Wilson, and Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet.
UNION, NJ: LIBERTY HALL
Join us for an interactive family program at the historic Liberty Hall at Kean University. Music of Schubert and Shostakovich will feel youthful wafting between 250 year old walls, intermingling with a rich history stretching back to the American Revolution.
HOUSTON, TX: DUDLEY RECITAL HALL
For the culmination of our week at UH, we will present a recital at Dudley Recital Hall featuring Schubert Rosamunde and an exciting collaboration with Moores School of Music faculty, Bass-Baritone Timothy Jones.
P.D.Q Bach - A Little Nightmare Music
A Formosa Set*
Schubert - String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D 804 “Rosamunde”
HOUSTON, TX: VIOLIN MASTERCLASS
Join Jasmine, David and University of Houston students for a deep dive into the violin repertoire. In this two hour masterclass, we will explore the musical nooks and crannies, confront the technical ins and outs, and turn over all of the metaphorical stones.
HOUSTON, TX: CELLO MASTERCLASS
Don’t miss our very own Debbie Pae working with the mighty UH cellists in plumbing truth from the depths of the music, and depth of tone from the uniquely sonorous violoncello.
HOUSTON, TX: VIOLA MASTERCLASS
Formosa Quartet’s Matthew Cohen leads a masterclass/guided tour through the wide wide (and ever expanding) world of music for solo viola. The combination of Matt’s heroic and virtuosic mission to annex both the violin and cello repertoires and the fearlessness of Moores’s violists will guarantee the flying of sparks.
HOUSTON, TX: MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Formosa Quartet returns to the University of Houston for Part II of our second season as Quartet in Residence at the Moores School of Music. We look forward to a host of workshops, masterclasses, and dialogues with the wonderful students of UH that are sure to inspire and invigorate.
OAKLAND, CA: FOUR SEASONS ARTS
We cannot wait to return to Four Seasons Arts in Berkeley, California this 2024-2025 season! Our performance in 2019 to a packed house with the most generous reception was beyond memorable. The Bay Area is a special place for us and we hope many of you will join us. Save the date in your calendar!
SANTA BARBARA, CA: SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART
Join us for the haunting storytelling of Schubert’s Rosamunde Quartet while being swept up in the vineyards and Pacific views of the “American Riviera”. We are excited to present a music from across five centuries at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, whose permanent collection spans nearly 5000 years!
Program:
Bach - The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 (Contrapuncti I, XIII, III, IX)
Schubert - String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D. 804 “Rosamunde”
—Intermission—
A Formosa Set*
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements
HOUSTON, TX: CMA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CMA holds an annual National Conference, and the Formosa Quartet is excited to attend the 2025 conference in Houston, TX. The last time we played on a showcase was in 2015, and it’ll be thrilling to be among the movers and shakers at the biggest chamber music party of the year!
Program:
Beethoven - String Quartet in F major, Op. 18 No. 1 (IV. Allegro)
*A Formosa Set
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements. Musical surprises to be expected and works will be announced from the stage!
ANN ARBOR, MI: KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE
It’s been a year of deli cravings, fish market fantasies and excitement for a return to the vibrancy of Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown. We can’t wait to present a very special program as part of Artistic Director Monica Swartout-Bebow’s series at the historic Kerrytown Concert House.
GUALALA, CA: GUALALA ARTS CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
Memories of steep cliffs, sprawling coastline and the call of owls at night have lingered vividly since our last visit to Gualala in 2019. It is the perfect terrain that will amplify the haunting romanticism of Schubert’s “Rosamunde” Quartet.
Program:
Bach: Selected Chorales
Schubert: String Quaret No. 13 in A minor, D 804 “Rosamunde”
***
A Formosa Quartet Set*
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements
WEST ORANGE, NJ: SUNDAY MUSICALE (PRIVATE EVENT)
New Jersey is where some of our family, oldest friends, favorite kimchi-makers, most visionary colleagues, and strongest memories are. So this is for all of you – a potent, pensive, and playful program that packs a punch.
Program:
Bach: Selected Chorales
Schubert: String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D 804 “Rosamunde”
A Formosa Quartet Set*
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements
NEW YORK, NY: OPUS 71 CONCERTS
The Co-Artistic Director of Opus 71 Concerts is also our violist! We are happy to be invited – and we didn’t even ply him with banana cream pie.
Program:
Schubert: String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D 804 “Rosamunde”
A Formosa Quartet Set*
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements
HOUSTON, TX: HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Wild, the Pop, and the Comic | Formosa Quartet in Collaboration with UH
Our week at UH culminates with a much anticipated collaboration with faculty and students at the stunning Hobby Center in downtown Houston. Although we are exploring it for the first time, the center opened in 2002 and the grounds have been home to several important arts and cultural centers going back almost a century! Purchase Tickets today!
Program:
Geminiani / Michi Wiancko: La Follia
— UH String Orchestra, Kirsten Yon and Mann-Wen Lo (violins); Amber Archibald (viola); Eunghee Cho (cello); Formosa Quartet
A Formosa Quartet Set
* intermission *
Stephen Prutsman: “Sherlock Jr” with a screening of Buster Keaton's 1924 comedy “Sherlock, Jr.”
— Timothy Hester, piano; Formosa Quartet
HOUSTON, TX: MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The community at UH truly feels like family, and we can’t wait to reunite for the start of our second season as Quartet in Residence at the Moores School of Music. This week will include a host of workshops, masterclasses, and dialogues that are sure to inspire and invigorate.
STILLWATER, OK: MCKNIGHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Formosa Quartet heads over to Stillwater, OK where we are excited to reconnect with McKnight Center Director of Artistic Planning Argeo Ascani for this Tuesday evening recital featuring Beethoven String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1 and a specially curated Formosa Set.
TULSA, OK: CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA
Following the previous night’s soiree, we look forward to a program abounding in youthful energy to TPAC’s Williams Theater. Beethoven’s first (dazzling) attempt at writing a string quartet is paired with Haydn’s penultimate opus - written within one year of each other!
Program:
Haydn - String Quartet in G major, Op. 77 No. 1
A Formosa Set*
(Including Rhiannon Giddens At the Purchaser’s Option and Charlton Singleton Testimony)
Beethoven - String Quartet in F major, Op. 18 No. 1
(*) An assortment of shorts from the FQ’s collection of folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements