Eclectica String Quartet

Date and Time: Saturday, July 29, 2023; 7 PM, without intermission.
Location: Island Arts Center, 1127 US Rt 2, North Hero, VT 05474
Tickets: $25
Tables:  $14 2-top or $20 4-top

Reserve a table for seating at $14 for a 2-top, $20 for a 4-top, and BYOB. Table tickets are available online or at the door, first come-first served, and subject to availability. Tables tickets are not available from local ticket outlets.

This fine Vermont chamber ensemble is dedicated to exploring the boundaries of the string quartet repertoire. The concert will feature music of the Danish String Quartet. This is soulful lyrical music inspired by folk elements, arranged beautifully for classical string quartet. These pieces flow smoothly from one to the other, in a concert of approximately one hour of music, without intermission.

The members of Eclectica String Quartet are Sofia Hirsch, Laura Markowitz,  Ana Ruesink, and John Dunlop. You can hear them playing with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and moonlighting with other groups such as JukeBox, Turn Music and Cricket Blue. In the summertime, they take to the streets with their music, and perform at house (and barn) concerts.

Sofia Hirsch, violin, began studying violin at age 4. She loved playing in the VYO ('84-88). Her VYO string quartet competed nationally at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Junior Division. In 2000, she joined the Vermont Symphony as a founding member, and performs regularly with the Northern Third Piano Quartet.  She has played with many other groups including Dartmouth Handel Society, Dartmouth Symphony, Middlebury Opera, and Middlebury Bach Festival, Her latest ventures combine live music and live dance. She provides the music for Threads and Thresholds with Hannah Dennison in historic Kent Museum, and across the state with Farm to Ballet, performing the solo in Vivaldi's 4 seasons. Sofia lives in South Burlington.

Laura Markowitz, violin, is a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and also plays in the Burlington Chamber Orchestra. Born in Pittsburgh, PA she earned her Bachelor’s in Music from Indiana University. Her teachers include Paul Biss, Peter Marsh and Larry Shapiro. Before moving to Vermont in 1991, her professional career included the Florida Orchestra (Tampa), the Ohio Chamber Orchestra (Cleveland) and the Santiago Philharmonic (Chile). An avid fiddler in swedish and celtic styles, she is a member of the band Symphony Reel, which plays for children across the state through the VSO’s Symphony Kids program. Laura maintains a teaching studio in Richmond, alongside her life partner, cellist John Dunlop.

Ana Ruesink, viola, enjoys exploring musical styles and traditions. An active freelance musician, she performs with the Vermont Symphony, Playing for Good, Dartmouth Symphony, and other regional ensembles. She plays English country dance music with her band Impropriety, Irish and Scandinavian tunes with her trio Symphony Reel, and an eclectic mix of old-time and traditional music with the Barker Family String Band (featuring her guitar-playing husband and two daughters). Beyond her musical pursuits, Ana likes to read, hike, and make kefir.

John Dunlop, cello, has been principal cellist with the Vermont Symphony, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Opera Company of Middlebury, Opera North, Vermont Mozart Festival, Vermont Virtuosi and the Green Mountain Opera Festival. He has performed as soloist with both the VSO and BCO. John is also the cellist with TURNmusic, which features many of the most interesting young composers of our time, as well as the newly formed Stellaria Piano Trio. He studied under Richard Kapuscinski at Oberlin Conservatory and Bonnie Hampton at the San Francisco Conservatory, and has played in master classes for Yo Yo Ma, Jerry Grossman, Steve Doane and others. John has also composed and recorded several award-wining film soundtracks for short films, including a documentary on childhood hunger in Vermont, where he called on his skills as a guitarist and bouzouki player in addition to cello. He has played for Bernadette Peters, Lyle Lovett and Phish. John is Vermont's busiest cellist!