Spektral Quartet

Spektral Quartet was a Chicago-based string quartet known for its commitment to contemporary music, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative audience engagement. Active from 2010 to 2022, the ensemble was celebrated for blending traditional string quartet repertoire with new works by living composers. Over its twelve-year career, Spektral Quartet performed at major venues and festivals, commissioned dozens of new works, and released multiple critically acclaimed albums.^[1]

Spektral Quartet
Origin	Chicago, United States
Genres	Classical, Contemporary classical music
Occupation	String quartet
Instrument(s)	2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello
Years active	2010–2022
Labels	Sono Luminus, Azica Records, Parlour Tapes+, New Amsterdam Records
Past members	Clara Lyon (violin) 2014-2022 Theo Espy (violin) 2017-2022 Doyle Armbrust (viola) 2010-2022 Russell Rolen (cello) 2010-2022 Aurelien Fort Pederzoli (violin) 2010-2014 J. Austin Wulliman (violin) 2010-2017
Website	www.spektralquartet.com

History

Founded in 2010, Spektral Quartet quickly gained recognition for its bold programming and deep engagement with Chicago’s contemporary music scene.^[2] Their work emphasized collaboration with composers, visual artists, and interdisciplinary creators, culminating in a repertoire that spanned classical, experimental, and avant-garde music. The quartet's commitment to pushing artistic boundaries led to notable projects such as Mobile Miniatures,^[3] a commissioning initiative involving dozens of composers including George E. Lewis, Nico Muhly, Shulamit Ran and Augusta Read Thomas, and Once More, With Feeling!,^[4] a concert format allowing audiences to hear new works twice in a single performance.

From 2012 to 2019, Spektral Quartet served as the Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Chicago’s Department of Music, where they worked closely with faculty and students, premiered new compositions, and engaged in educational outreach.

In 2022, Spektral Quartet announced the conclusion of its work as an ensemble, marking the end of an era for one of the leading string quartets in contemporary music. The ensemble’s farewell was met with critical acclaim, with The Chicago Tribune reflecting on their lasting impact on the chamber music world.^[5]

Discography

Spektral Quartet Albums

• Chambers (2013 Parlour Tapes+)^[6]
• From This Point Forward (2013 Azica Records)^[7]
  • with Julien Labro (bandoneon/accordion) and special guest Miguel Zenón^[8]
• Serious Business (2016 Sono Luminus)^[9] - GRAMMY-nominated^[10]
• Experiments in Living (2020 New Focus Recordings)^[11]
• ENIGMA (2021 Sono Luminus)^[12]
• Behind the Wallpaper (2023) New Amsterdam Records^[13]
  • with Julia Holter (voice) and Alex Temple (composer)

Recordings featuring Spektral Quartet

• Fin de Siècle (2015, Aparté)^[14]
• Of Being Is A Bird (2016, Nimbus Records)^[15]
• Ritual Incantations (2018, Nimbus Records)^[16]
• Anthony Cheung: Cycles and Arrows (2018, New Focus Records)^[17]
• Fanm d'Ayiti (2019, New Amsterdam Records)^[18] - GRAMMY-nominated^[19]
• Yo Soy La Tradición (2020, Miel Music) - GRAMMY-nominated^[20]
• Kotoka Suzuki: Shimmer Tree (2022, Starkland)^[21]

Articles and reviews

• The New Yorker: Two Thriving String Quartets (Nov 10, 2020)
• Chicago Tribune: After More Than A Decade, Chicago's Spektral Quartet Hangs Up Its Bows. The Grammy-Nominated Group Is Going Out 'With A Bang' (Apr 5, 2022)
• Spin Magazine: Spektral Quartet, with Julia Holter and Alex Temple, Release A Masterpiece (Mar 9, 2023)
• Chicago Reader: Spektral Quartet give difficult music a friendly face (Jan 20, 2016)
• New York Times: Review: Frequency Festival Offers in Chicago Offers the Complicated and Compelling (Mar 1, 2016)
• Boston Globe: For Spektral Quartet, modern music mixes well with humor (Mar 11, 2016)
• WQXR Q2 Music: Humor and Fiendish Difficulty in Spektral Quartet's 'Serious Business' (Jan 18, 2016)
• WQXR Q2 Music: 10 Imagination-Grabbing, Trailblazing Artists of 2014 (Dec 15, 2014)
• Pitchfork: Mobile Miniatures: Download Ringtones Composed by Nico Muhly, Julia Holter, Dirty Projectors' Olga Bell, and More (May 13, 2014)
• Chicago Tribune: Spektral Quartet dials up micro-symphonies for cellphone (Nov 26, 2013)

Awards and Recognition

• Grammy Award Nominee for Best World Music Album (2020) – Fanm d'Ayiti with Nathalie Joachim^[19]
• Grammy Award Nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album (2019) – Yo Soy La Tradición with Miguel Zenón^[20]
• Grammy Award Nominee for Best Small Ensemble / Chamber Music Album (2017) – Serious Business^[10]
• Latin Grammy Nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album (2019) – Yo Soy La Tradición with Miguel Zenón
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants:
  • 2019^[22] - Development of ENIGMA by composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir
  • 2021^[23]– Recording of Behind the Wallpaper
• Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant (2018)
• Named "Chicagoans of the Year" (2017) by the Chicago Tribune^[24]

Legacy

Spektral Quartet left a lasting impact on contemporary chamber music, pushing the boundaries of traditional string quartet repertoire while fostering deep collaborations with composers, artists, and audiences. Their interdisciplinary projects, commitment to education, and dedication to new music established them as one of the most forward-thinking ensembles of their era.