New Orford String Quartet; photo credit Dahlia Katz

Monday, May 12, 2025

7:30 PM

The series concludes Monday, May 12, with the New Orford String Quartet presenting works by Mozart, Dinuk Wijeratne, and Schubert (Death and the Maiden). Violinists Andrew Wan and Jonathan Crow, violist Sharon Wei, and cellist Brian Manke formed their ensemble with the goal of developing a new model for a touring string quartet: bringing four elite orchestral leaders and soloists together on a regular basis over many years to perform chamber music at the highest level. The Toronto Star has described this outcome as “nothing short of electrifying.” They have seen astonishing success, giving annual concerts for national CBC broadcast and receiving two Opus Awards for Concert of the Year and a 2017 JUNO Award for Best Classical Album. Recent seasons have featured return engagements in Chicago, Montreal, and Toronto, as well as their New York City debut on Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series.

This concert is generously co-sponsored by the Sleet Music Performance Fund in memory of San Diegans Don Sleet (jazz trumpeter), Marshall Sleet (band leader and composer), Anna Mae Sleet (vocalist), and Jeffery Sleet (concert cellist).  

All concerts are preceded by a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. and are followed by a reception with the artists in the Sharon & Joel Labovitz Entry Hall.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these concerts. Your name will be on the attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These concerts will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.