Strings Magazine

THE DOVER QUARTET OFFERS 8 CAREER TIPS TO ASPIRING CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

by Miranda Wilson

To the outside observer, the Dover Quartet’s rise to the top looks practically meteoric. Since winning all four prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the group has performed more than 100 concerts a year in locations spanning four continents. They’ve accumulated one milestone achievement after another—competition wins, invitations to major festivals and concert series, and now, in breaking news, a newly created, three-year faculty residency at Northwestern University.

But the members of the Dover Quartet—violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee, violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, and cellist Camden Shaw—insist that their success wasn’t just handed to them. 

The life of our string quartet has never been easy, and in today’s world, even some of the most promising young quartets experience a revolving door of personnel changes, or disband altogether when the frenetic travel itineraries, relentless rehearsals, and low earnings become too much to endure. 

Not so for the Dover Quartet: Their singular commitment to their art has enabled them to keep the same membership for over seven years, and reach the highest levels of the music profession. 

So what sets the Dover apart from the dozens of other young quartets trying to make it in this crowded, intensely competitive field? What advice can they give to aspiring young quartets who want to follow in their footsteps?

1. Learn from Great Teachers at a Great School