Violinist

Hailed by The Strad for playing with “tremendous heart and beauty,” the Ivalas Quartet has been changing the face of classical music since its inception in 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. Among the many composers whose works they have championed are Eleanor Alberga, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Iván Enrique Rodríguez, Carlos Simon, Alvin Singleton, and George Walker. They premiered Derrick Skye’s Deliverance through a commission from Caramoor in 2024.

Ivalas Quartet

High School of Fashion Industries

Featuring violinist Reuben Kebede, with the resident graduate string quartet at Juilliard, and favorites for orchestra by Brahms.

EPSG:4326

Brahms! - Masterworks Series

Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center

Join us for an unforgettable musical experience as the Ivalas Quartet graces the stage at Caramoor on February 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm. This remarkable ensemble, serving as the 2022-23 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, will present their final concert in this residency, a performance that was eagerly anticipated and has been postponed from June 2023. The concert will take place in the intimate setting of the Chamber Music Room, offering a perfect acoustic environment to appreciate the quartet's artistry.

The Ivalas Quartet is renowned for their commitment to showcasing diverse voices in classical music, and this concert is no exception. Their program features works by Black and indigenous composers, including a world premiere by the exceptionally talented Derrick Skye, whose compositions reflect his Ghanaian, Nigerian, Native American, and British/Irish heritage. Skye's new work, "Deliverance," promises to be a transcultural exploration blending Persian classical melodic systems with rhythmic elements from West and North African music, offering a unique and enriching musical experience.

The quartet, composed of Reuben Kebede and Tiani Butts on violins, Marcus Stevenson on viola, and Pedro Sánchez on cello, will also perform pieces by Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, and Eleanor Alberga, creating a program that celebrates the richness and diversity of classical music. Each piece has been carefully selected to align with the Ivalas Quartet's mission to disrupt and enhance the classical music world by amplifying voices less known and sometimes unheard.

This concert is not just a performance but a statement of the Ivalas Quartet's dedication to representation, diversity, and the power of music to unite and inspire. It is an invitation to explore the sounds of music from cultures and communities that echo our own and those that may be new to us, all within the beautiful setting of Caramoor.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the transformative power of music as brought to life by the Ivalas Quartet.

Violinist

Reuben Kebede

Events

Past events

Nov 8, 2025

Ivalas Quartet · Peoples' Symphony Concerts

Apr 13, 2024

Brahms! - Masterworks Series · West Texas Symphony

Future and recently performed repertoire

Violin in String Quartet by Berg

Peoples' Symphony Concerts

Violin in String Quartet in G minor by Debussy

Peoples' Symphony Concerts

Violin in Deliverance by Skye

Peoples' Symphony Concerts

About

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