Relax, refresh, and reload

Happy summer, friends of SSQ!

Summer for us Serafins is a bit of a scattered affair this year, with various events, festivals, vacations, work - but not all together as a quartet. While we'll miss each other, and will feel a sense of urgency when we hit the ground running in August for a rush of rehearsals to launch the 2014-15 season, our time away is also a refreshing time to expand our horizons as individuals and come back to quartet with a new wealth of experiences, inspiration, and maybe a little extra sleep.

We had a little bit going on in June, having a week-long rehearsal retreat, to push through some new repertoire that we "test drove" for a private house concert. It was good to get going with some music new to all of us, like the Janaček "Intimate Letters" Quartet and the Grieg g minor String Quartet, and revisit music that we all knew, just not necessarily together as SSQ. But now, we've gone to various places around North America for a variety of activities, professional and personal.

Kate will be spending a good bit of time at the home base, continuing her tireless and great work for the Music School of Delaware, as their President and CEO, and will also take time to travel for family visits and some performing (including a collaboration with her long-time recital partner, Tony Sirianni). She just had a lovely visit with her delightful and vivacious mother, Nancy!

Lisa is spending a number of weeks at the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, where in addition to performing orchestrally and as a chamber musician, she also acts as the orchestra's personnel manager. (no small job!) Whenever spare time allows, she also loves taking advantage of the great hiking and camping opportunities Colorado provides.

Esme has a variety of events planned this summer. Having already given a guest master class at the Primrose International Viola Competition and Festival in Los Angeles, she will be performing at the Techne Music Festival in Pennsylvania, at the Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival in Vermont, and serving as a faculty member at the ArtsAhimsa Festival for adult amateur chamber musicians in Lenox, Massachusetts. She left a little time to go see her family in Canada, too.

Larry is also hopping around a fair bit. Currently accompanying his daughter at a Suzuki violin camp in Ithaca, NY, he will be heading to Techne Music Festival in Pennsylvania (and playing some with Esme!), where he serves on the faculty and as a featured performer. He will also be a guest performer at the International Double Reed Society Conference in New York City in August. In between all of that, he'll spend some time with his family in his slice of heaven, Silver Bay, NY, on Lake George.

But even apart, we're all still proud Serafins, and look forward to getting back together in August to gear up for an exciting and full upcoming season! We hope your summer plans treat you to all the rest and refreshment that you need, as well!