The Arianna String Quartet is an American

string quartet The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...

that has been in residence at the

University of Missouri–St. Louis The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) is a Public university, public research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Established in 1963, it is the newest of the four universities in the University of Missouri System. Located ...

since 2000. Formed in 1992, the quartet's current members are John McGrosso, violins; Joanna Mendoza, viola; and Kurt Baldwin, cello. In 1994, the quartet won the Grand Prize at the

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition is the largest and oldest continuous chamber music competition in the United States. In 1973, Joseph E. Fischoff and fellow members of the South Bend Chamber Music Society established a competition to ...

. It has performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Japan, Canada and France. Reviewing a concert given at

Music Mountain Summer Chamber Music Festival Music Mountain Summer Chamber Music Festival, located on Music Mountain Road in Falls Village, Connecticut, is America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival. Founded in 1930, it is currently in its 94th season. Mission Music Mountain ...

in 2004, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote that the quartet "played like the good young group that it is", and the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'', reviewing a 2000 concert at the

Chicago Cultural Center The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago Landmark building operated by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Cultural Center houses the city's official reception venue, where the Mayor of Chicago, M ...

, wrote that the quartet "makes music with the tonal warmth, fastidious balance, and heightened communication skills of groups many years its senior." The Arianna String Quartet has a long-term contract with

Centaur Records Centaur Records is one of the oldest and largest independent classical labels in America. The company is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was founded by Victor Sachse in 1976. Centaur's catalog includes classical, historical, pops, contemp ...

and has also recorded for

Albany Records Albany Records is a record label that concentrates on unconventional contemporary classical music by American composers and musicians. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987 and is based in Albany, New York. In May 2024, Albany Records wa ...

and Urtext Digital Classics. For Centaur Records, the quartet has recorded Janáček's two quartets,

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

's horn quintet (K. 407), G-minor piano quartet, and clarinet quintet, and

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

's early and middle quartets. Reviewing the quartet's recording of Beethoven's quartets Opp. 59, 74, and 95, Jerry Dubins of ''

Fanfare A fanfare (or fanfarade or flourish) is a short musical flourish which is typically played by trumpets (including fanfare trumpets), French horns or other brass instruments, often accompanied by percussion. It is a "brief improvised introdu ...

'' wrote: "I am prepared to state and defend my belief that these may just be the greatest performances of Beethoven's middle quartets in recorded history."

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* * {{authority control American string quartets Musical groups established in 1992 Centaur Records artists Albany Records artists