The Catalyst Quartet, renowned for their unity and stellar execution, embarked on a remarkable musical journey with clarinetist Todd Palmer. From Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Francisco, they delivered performances that elegantly intertwined classical and contemporary sounds. Notable works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and David Bruce were brought to life, showcasing the quartet’s versatility. As part of their ongoing commitment to diversity in music, these performances highlighted both their historical significance and artistic innovation, offering audiences an unforgettable auditory experience.

Catalyst Quartet's Melodic Odyssey: Bridging Classical and Contemporary

The Catalyst Quartet, known for "perfect ensemble unity" and "unequaled class of execution" (Lincoln Journal Star),  has toured widely throughout the United States and abroad, including sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., at Chicago's Harris Theater, Miami's New World Center, and Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York. The quartet has been guest soloists with the Cincinnati Symphony, New Haven Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, and has served as principal players and featured ensemble with the Sphinx Organization's featured ensemble, the Sphinx Virtuosi, on six national tours. They have been invited to perform at important music festivals such as Mainly Mozart in San Diego, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Sitka Music Festival, Juneau Jazz and Classics, Strings Music Festival, and the Grand Canyon Music Festival, where they appear annually. The Catalyst Quartet was ensemble-in-residence at the Vail Dance Festival in 2016 and in the 2021-22 season were in residence with San Francisco Performances where they presented the complete series of works from their Uncovered Project. In 2014, they opened the Festival del Sole in Napa, California with Joshua Bell and participated in England's Aldeburgh Music Foundation String Quartet Residency with two performances in Jubilee Hall. In 2022 the Catalyst Quartet was named ensemble in residence for the Chamber Music Northwest Festival in Portland and for the Met Museum's LiveArts series in NYC.

Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer, clarinet

Sunset Center

Brothers Anthony and Demarre McGill have achieved a phenomenal level of success in the classical music world. The only siblings ever to win the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, Anthony was appointed the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, and Demarre is the principal flutist of the Seattle Symphony. The Grammy Award winning Catalyst Quartet and harpist Charles Overton join these two outstanding wind musicians for a program that encompasses new works by Jeff Scott and Brian Raphael Nabors and Ravel’s dazzling Introduction et Allegro.

EPSG:4326

Demarre McGill, flute Anthony McGill, clarinet Charles Overton, harp Catalyst Quartet

American Philosophical Society

PCMS Masterclass | Catalyst Quartet

Settlement Music School

Catalyst Quartet makes its exciting Fortas series debut. Founded by the Sphinx Organization in 2010, the ensemble has been praised for its “perfect ensemble unity” and “unequaled class of execution” (Lincoln Journal Star). Building its programs and projects around a belief in the unifying power of music, the group acts as a catalyst—redefining and reimagining the classical music experience. The ensemble brings this mission and compelling new music to the relaxed lounge setting of the Club at Studio K.


Catalyst Quartet

Kennedy Center

Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished… playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble (Karla Donehew Perez, violin; Abi Fayette, violin; Paul Laraia, viola; and Karlos Rodriguez, cello) believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine their programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience.

Alaska Airlines' Autumn Classics Week 1

Fine Arts Building

Catalyst Quartet & Zuill Bailey - Sitka

Harrigan Centennial Hall

Join us for season two of the Catalyst Quartet’s Uncovered series with guest artists bringing to broader recognition the music of historic composers whose works have rarely been heard. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Joshua Kosman put it best when he wrote, “You and I could go to chamber concerts for years and never hear a program as full of surprises and discovery as this one. And we’ve been missing out.”

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished … playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. 

Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer

Noe Valley Ministry

### Event Description: Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer

**Date and Time:** May 5, 2025, at 7:30 PM (Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM)

**Location:** Sunset Center, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

**Event Overview:**
Join us for an enchanting evening with the renowned Catalyst Quartet, featuring the exceptional clarinetist Todd Palmer. This concert promises a captivating blend of classical and contemporary music, showcasing the extraordinary talents of these acclaimed musicians.

**Program:**
- **David Bruce:** *Gumboots* (2008)
- **Samuel Coleridge-Taylor:** *Quintet in F-sharp Minor for Clarinet and Strings, op. 10*

**Performers:**
- **Catalyst Quartet:**
  - Karla Donehew Perez, violin
  - Abi Fayette, violin
  - Paul Laroia, viola
  - Karlos Rodriguez, cello
- **Todd Palmer, clarinet**

**About the Artists:**
The Catalyst Quartet is celebrated for its perfect ensemble unity and exceptional execution. They have performed at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and have been featured at numerous international music festivals. The quartet is committed to diversity and education, often engaging in residencies and workshops.

Todd Palmer is a three-time Grammy-nominated clarinetist known for his versatility and collaborations with top-tier ensembles and vocalists. He has premiered significant works and performed globally, earning accolades for his contributions to classical and contemporary music.

**Tickets:**
Purchase your tickets now to experience this unique musical event. Don't miss the pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM for an insightful introduction to the evening's program.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit our [website](#).

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This event is a must-see for classical music enthusiasts and those looking to experience the dynamic synergy between strings and clarinet. Join us for an unforgettable night of music at the Sunset Center.

Hailed as a “legend of the cello” by The New Yorker, Marcy Rosen joins forces with GRAMMY Award-winning violist Kim Kashkashian and the “invariably energetic” Catalyst Quartet (New York Times) for a rare performance of Erich Korngold’s Sextet in D Major—a work full of bustling energy and sweeping melodies. Against All Odds showcases music by composers who faced significant hardship and oppression during their lives.

Catalyst Quartet Kim Kashkashian, viola Marcy Rosen, cello

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Double Grammy® winner J’Nai Bridges brings a refreshingly expansive knack for programming matched by technical gifts and “calmly commanding stage presence” (The New Yorker) for her return to San Francisco Performances. She is joined by pianist Terrence Wilson, “one of the biggest pianistic talents to have emerged in this country in the last 25 years” (Baltimore Sun), and SFP veterans the Catalyst Quartet, who perform “with the clarity and vigor of a great ensemble” (San Francisco Chronicle).

Catalyst Quartet

May 4, 2025

Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer

May 5, 2025

Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer

Feb 1, 2026

Catalyst Quartet Kim Kashkashian, viola Marcy Rosen, cello

Mar 19, 2026

J’Nai Bridges, Terrence Wilson, and Catalyst Quartet (Art of Song/Herbst)

May 3, 2025

Catalyst Quartet with Todd Palmer, clarinet

Mar 28, 2024

Demarre McGill, flute Anthony McGill, clarinet Charles Overton, harp Catalyst Quartet

Articles & News

Catalyst Quartet