Cadenza Strings - Alaya String Quartet

Alaya String Quartet
*Photo courtesy of Jackie Iannotti (www.avenuephoto.ca)

The Alaya String Quartet

Sheila Jaffé, violin
Brenna Hardy-Kavanagh, violin
Emilie Grimes, viola
Sonya Matoussova, cello

alaya - indivisible; the root of all beings and things

Based in Montréal, Canada, the Alaya String Quartet is comprised of four young women studying at l'Université de Montréal. The quartet is currently coached by Johanne Perron and Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot.

The quartet was founded in 2004 as the Cadenza String Quartet. The original members were violinists Olga Rykov and Brenna Hardy-Kavanagh, violist Shasta Ellenbogen and cellist Sonya Matoussova. Together they recorded a successful demo CD and won the James Rattray Wilson Trophy for their performance of the Adagio from Samuel Barber's String Quartet at the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival.

In 2005, the quartet welcomed violinist Siobhan Deshauer and violist Emilie Grimes. Their performance of Antonin Dvorak's String Quartet No.12 "America" earned them the opportunity to compete in the Kiwanis Music Festival Provincial Finals. The Cadenza String Quartet performed their first full-length recital program in June 2006, with string quartets by Dvorak and Mozart. Thus began a tradition of spring concerts. In 2007, their recital program included works by Shostakovich and Smetana.

2008 has brought many changes for the ensemble. Under their new name, the Alaya String Quartet, they begin the season by welcoming their newest member, violinist Sheila Jaffé. Exciting plans for the coming year include competitions, concerts in Ottawa and Montreal, and studio sessions for a new demo CD.

Upcoming Performances

September 21st, 2008 at 2PM - Alaya String Quartet in Petawawa
Petawawa Presbyterian Church, Petawawa, ON

Past Performances

May 11th, 2008 at 14:15 - Festival de Musique Classique du Bas-Richelieu
Salle de l'Harmonie Calixa Lavallée, Sorel-Tracy, QC
April 27th, 2008 at 16:00 - Alaya String Quartet Spring Concert
Knox Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, ON
April 24th, 2008 at 20:00 - Quatuor Alaya Concert de printemps
Paroisse Bon-Pasteur, Laval-des-Rapides, QC
April 23rd, 2008 at 20:00 - Quatuor Alaya Concert de printemps
Église Unie St-Jean, Montréal, QC
April 14th, 2008 at 17:00 - Université de Montréal Chamber Music Concert
Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
March 11th, 2008 at 18:00 - Université de Montréal Chamber Music Concert
Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC


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"Excellente prestation. Bel équilibre entre les instruments. Très bon style. Le jeu est soigné et toujours vivant. Bravo!"

--- Guy Carmichaël, Festival de Musique Classique du Bas-Richelieu, May 2008


"Congratulations on a wonderful concert! I brought along a few friends. One of them told me just before you starting playing, he had never been to a quartet concert before! He really enjoyed it and you definitely opened his mind to this form of music."

--- Guy Harrison, Spring Concert, June 2007


"I just want you to know that I enjoyed last night's concert immensely (as I did last year's!); I hope it wasn't the last opportunity I will have to hear you play together. In particular, the Tango "Chromatique" was an excellent selection to finish with, providing a beautifully relaxing resolution after the tension of Shostakovich (whose challenging piece I thought you executed marvelously, by the way)."

--- Dean Morewood, Spring Concert, June 2007


"Your performance was remarkable. I congratulate you on your level of musicianship and professionalism."

--- Chris Hounsome, Kiwanis Music Festival, April 2006


"I just wanted to say thanks again to you for doing such a wonderful job. You all play so beautifully, and it was an absolute pleasure to hear you perform."

--- Jonathan Neva, Recording Session, March 2006


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