The Delray String Quartet at the Colony Hotel, from left, Tao Lin, Tomas Cotik, Mei Mei Luo, Richard Fleischman and Claudio Jaffeé.
The Delray String Quartet puts on its last local show March 15 at the Colony Hotel, but the troupe won't be slowing down.
In April, the group makes its New York debut at the Bargemusic Festival. At the eminent event, the quartet will play Kenneth Fuchs' String Quartet No. 5, "American," a work that it commissioned.
Then in Miami in May, the quartet premieres its seventh original, commissioned work by Richard Danielpour, Quartet No. 7 for soprano and string quartet. It will be recorded on the ensemble's upcoming fourth CD with Grammy Award-wining soprano Hila Plitmann.
"For us this means a lot. We've been lucky enough to commission new works for the group," said cellist Claudio Jaffeé. "Danielpour makes us feel part of the narrative. To play and to encourage composers to compose new music for the medium is an honor - and we're thrilled to feel like we're playing a small part in the history of music by commissioning new works."
Jaffeé credits the newly commissioned works for its invitation to the Bargemusic Festival, which is "a big deal," he said. The company's members also bring impressive resumes.
Violist Richard Fleischman is a Juilliard School graduate, where he earned its highest honors. He's taken home many awards; most notably, the Windsor Prize, which Leonard Bernstein personally handed him.
Violinist Mei Mei Luo started at the Shanghai Conservatory. She also plays with Miami City Ballet and is concertmaster of Orchestra Miami.
Second violinist Tomas Cotik has performed around the world. He has a thriving career in his own right as a musician, concertmaster and professor.
Jaffeé has received accolades from the New York Times. He teaches and is an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Founder and general manager Don Thompson assembled the quartet 11 years ago. When the Florida Philharmonic dissolved, he saw an opportunity to bring classical music to Delray Beach.
"I took four of the best musicians and started the quartet," he said. "I'm underwriting it and we're getting donations. We're doing all right. We're making CDs with top composers."
Membership evolved during the quartet's early seasons. But the current lineup has been together for four years. They've built a solid rapport.
During its February concert the ensemble played flawlessly. Pianist Tao Lin accompanied the group.
"We're a world-class string quartet," Thompson said. "We're one of the best in the country."
Tickets for the March 15 concert at the Colony Hotel, 525 E. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach are $35. Visit DelrayStringQuartet.com or call 561-213-4138.