B I O G R A P H Y
Desdemona is a New York City-based ensemble devoted to creating unique and inventive performances that “grab the listener by the back of the neck and don’t let go (Peter Margasak),” spanning from the Renaissance to world premieres. They have been described by the New Yorker as an “excellent young quartet,” OperaWire as “fantastic,” and by the Wall Street Journal as “behind a scrim.” Fusing the conservatory training of Juilliard-educated members with immersion in the New York experimental scene, Desdemona is known for expanding the sonic possibilities of traditional instrumentation with vocalization, improvisation, and mixed media.
Desdemona has appeared at venues including MoMA PS1, Roulette, the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, Spectrum, Areté Gallery, 1 Rivington, Elebash Hall at the CUNY Graduate Center, Princeton University’s Unruly Sounds Festival, Savannah Philharmonic’s Larsen Spotlight Series, the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, and numerous home gatherings through Groupmuse. As 2021 fellows of the Banff Centre’s Evolution: Quartet program, they were presented by Gotham Early Music Scene at the Church of the Transfiguration. In 2020 the quartet premiered “Magdalene”, an opera by 14 composers for soprano, quartet, and harp as part of PROTOTYPE Festival. Desdemona regularly performs on the Live Oak Concert Series, in Savannah, Georgia, bringing classical and new music to a broader audience in venues from art galleries to kayak shops. Their 2022 album Tús, a portrait album of composer Finola Merivale, was featured on Bandcamp’s Best of Contemporary Classical for 2022.
Taking advantage of the string quartet’s chameleonic nature, Desdemona collaborates with a wide range of talents in NYC and beyond, including percussionist Adam Holmes, harpist Sonia Bize, mezzo-soprano Mikki Sodergren, and the Classical Saxophone Project. They have worked closely with living composers including Anthony R. Green, Finola Merivale, Peter Kramer, David Bird, Robinson McClellan, Cassie Wieland, Adam Holmes, and Kinds of Kings collective, whose six string quartets they gave the New York premiere. Desdemona has performed and recorded with pop artists including Lyra Pramuk, Vines, and Whitney.
As educators, the ensemble has given masterclasses and workshops at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Garrison School for the Arts in Savannah, Georgia Southern University, University of Georgia, and the Kaufman Center. All of Desdemona’s members maintain private studios in New York and are passionate about instilling creativity in musicians of all ages.
Desdemona is a recipient of a 2021 Chamber Music America Ensemble Forward grant, made possible with generous support from the New York Community Trust, and a City Artist Corps grant from New York Foundation for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
G E N E R A L C O N T A C T
freyaviol (at) gmail.com
Desdemona is Adrianne Munden-Dixon (violin), Caroline Drexler (violin), Carrie Frey (viola), Julia Henderson (cello), and Margarita Rovenskaya (piano).
“It’s taut, nervy, and demanding, and Desdemona matches it skilfully and fearlessly.” (Brendan Finan, The Journal of Music)
E D U C A T I O N / W O R K S H O P S
Desdemona is dedicated to working with young composers and musicians and has collaborated with institutions including the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Garrison School for the Arts in Savannah, Georgia Southern University, University of Georgia, and the Kaufman Center.
We offer the following educational activities as independent events or in conjunction with public performances:
Reading, Workshop, Performance and/or Recording of Student Compositions
Reading, Workshop, Performance, and/or Recording of Faculty Compositions
Extended technique workshop – with violin/viola/cello students
Performance - Desdemona program
Instrumental Masterclass – violin, viola, cello
Chamber Music Masterclass
Side by side performance with a student ensemble
P R E S S
“The slashing upper register lines that three members of the New York string quartet Desdemona lay out grab the listener by the back of the neck and don’t let go.” (Peter Margasak, Bandcamp Best of Contemporary Classical 2022)
“It’s taut, nervy, and demanding, and Desdemona matches it skilfully and fearlessly.” (Brendan Finan, The Journal of Music)
“Excellent young quartet" (Steve Smith, The New Yorker)