Program and Artist Biography

The New York City based Voxare String Quartet formed in 2008 and has since received critical acclaim for its inventive programming, technical prowess, attention to detail, and passionate performances. Praised as one of the most brilliant and versatile quartets of its generation, “the Voxare Quartet is half Russian, half Chicagoan, 100 percent Juilliardian and 400 percent young, enthusiastic, blessed with individual great instrumental skills” (Concertonet). The New York Times declared that Voxare “played with precision and passion,” and has twice chosen Voxare as its Classical Pick of the Week.

Voxare is a frequent performer at Bargemusic in New York City, where the quartet has been quartet-in-residence for two summers. Voxare is not afraid to break down the boundaries of classical music: it has made and performed its own transcriptions of popular and rock music and often performs in alternative concert venues. Voxare can be found on the soundtracks of several films shown at festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca.

Emily Ondracek received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, where she is a researching new methods of music education. She has performed throughout the United States and Europe and at festivals such as Aspen, Italy’s Festival de Due Mondi, and the Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Summer music festival. In New York, Ondracek frequently gives recitals and has also performed with jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis. Ondracek records often for film and television and has recorded for Naxos Records.

Galina Zhadnova was born in Russia and is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Zhadnova is a versatile musician, at home in the worlds of classical, contemporary, and popular music. Her performances have taken her from Bargemusic and Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden, Boardwalk Theater in Atlantic City, and Izod Arena and to television appearances on Good Morning America, The View, and Rachel Ray’s shows. Galina has played with Josh Groban, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Sarah Brightman, David Byrne, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Erik Peterson has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Milwaukee and New World symphonies. He has participated in the music festivals of Sarasota, Blossom, Aspen, and Grant Park, as well as the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi in Italy. As a chamber musician, Peterson has collaborated with members of the Juilliard, Brentano, and Cleveland quartets and members of the Chicago Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, leading him to perform in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall. Peterson received his bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School, and his master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Adrian Daurov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is a graduate of the Juilliard School. In 2007 he was appointed the principal cello of the Chamber Orchestra of New York. Daurov appeared as a soloist and chamber musician on the main concert stages of St. Petersburg as well as in Europe and the U.S. In 2004 he toured Germany as a soloist with the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra and was appointed the principal cello of the Bayreuth Festival Youth Orchestra. He performs chamber music regularly in the New York Area.