For 10 years I was the violist in the Saint Helen String Quartet, for many years the Ensemble in Residence at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. We performed throughout the Pacific Northwest in every major venue, on the radio and Television. Our debut recording will be released in September, 2015.
Our debut release is named after Grammy Award-winning composer Peter Schickele’s five-movement String Quartet No. 1, American Dreams. Weaving together Appalachian folk, and waltz structures into a pastoral and Coplandesque landscape Schickele has the viola playing an indian chant, violins playing birds at dawn, and the cello rumbling an approaching thunder storm on the praires. Ken Benshoof's heartland and gospel themes from Swing Low to Raggedy Blues to Remember, are complimented by Bern Herbolsheimer's Yucatan inspired Botanas snacks and Janice Giteck's soaring spiritual pieces,Where can you live safely then? In surrender and Ricercare (Dream Upon Arrival).