Four girls tearing into their instruments: Quartet Rouge is an alternative string quartet creating percussive and edgy new grooves. These pro string players have turned their talents to the world of rock and pop to create original arrangements of their favorite tunes. Their set list is like hitting shuffle on your iPod: Radiohead, Black Eyed Peas, Alison Krauss, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse etc. Morphing their 18th Century instruments into drums, bass, guitar and voice, Quartet Rouge is refreshingly hip.
Quartet Rouge performed in the Berkeley Repertory Theater's production of Green Day's " American Idiot" which is currently on Broadway. They are also featured on the CD soundtrack for the show and performed with Green Day at the 2010 Grammy's award ceremony in Los Angeles.
Quartet Rouge has performed as back up strings for Tommy Lee, Diana Krall, Josh Groban, Peter Cetera, Smokey Robinson and Trans Siberian Orchestra. They have enjoyed recording and performing with numerous local SF Bay Area artists.
Genie - Violin
Origins Born in Chicago, IL. Raised in the northwest suburbs, more specifically, Schaumburg (affectionately known as Scumburg AKA: the IKEA suburb).
Training Started her Suzuki studies at the age of 4. BMUS at Rice University with Sergiu Luca. MMUS at Mannes College of Music with Danny Phillips. Frank Huntington Beebe grant winner to study one year abroad in Germany. Advanced studies with Josef Gingold and Victor Yampolsky.
Performances Santa Rosa Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Fresno Symphony, Oakland East Bay Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Fifth House Ensemble, ACM, Four Score Music Festival, Camerata Chicago, Whitney Houston (on Oprah!), Josh Groban, and two winter seasons with "The Dead" at the Court Theater.
Travels Various projects, festivals and tours throughout Germany, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Khazakstan, Russia, Korea, China, Brazil, and the U.S.
Inspiration The wonderful Ko and Wie women of my family especially my mother and grandmothers.
Quirks I'm averse to wearing dresses. If you see me wearing one, I'll probably have a pair of pants underneath. I'm a tad OCD when it comes to keeping my living space organized. Okay, really OCD. And please keep mayonnaise away from me.
Kathy - Violin
Origins From Ventura, CA. Playing violin since age 6. Grandmother was a violinist.
Training UC San Diego, Universidad de Madrid Spain
Performances Dick Bright’s SRO, SF Mime Troupe, Shotgun Wedding Hip Hop Orchestra, SF Shakespeare Company, Percy Faith Orchestra, Inter’l Women’s Philharmonic tour of Brazil, SF Opera, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Santa Rosa Symphony, Marin Symphony, Shorenstein/Nederlander Hayes Theaters.
Travels Tours of Japan, Alaska, New Orleans Mardi Gras in the Super Dome, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, The Bahamas, many other states in US
Inspiration Herbie Hancock, Gilles Apap, Esperanza Spalding
Quirks Although Kathy has performed all over Italy in a purple Afro wig and hot pants, she’s really a nature girl at heart who loves to hike with her new puppy.
Michi - Viola
Origins From San Francisco. Started with Suzuki violin method at age 3, then private teachers throughout Bay Area. Switched to viola at age 21.
Training BM in violin, MM Chamber Music from SF Conservatory of Music. Masterclasses with Yuri Bashmet, Jorja Fleezanis, Robert Mann, Evan Wilson, Geraldine Walther
Recordings Sun Kil Moon, John Vanderslice, The Monolith, Tim Bluhm, Okkervil River
Travels Recorded with Sun Kil Moon and then went on two week tours of Europe and the U.S. in 2004
Inspiration Her mother’s strength
Quirks I can’t go a day without crazy colored eye shadow.
Rachel - Cello
Origins From Dunstable, England. Started playing at age 7. BM in Cello Performance, Trinity College of Music (London), MM in Cello Performance, Rutgers University. Masterclasses with William Pleeth, Brodsky Quartet.
Performances Founder of Synchronicity Strings. Performances with Northern Sinfonia, Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt; Folkwang Kammerorchester, Wiener Masken Theater; Helix! New Music Ensemble; Monterey Symphony; Santa Rosa Symphony
Recordings Skywalker Sound, Ian Anderson, Robin Gibb, Rilke Projekt Live, Monolith, Patterns in Movement, Ophelia’s Dream, Taxi, Schember
Travels Toured Europe with Ian Anderson, Robin Gibb, Nena, Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt and Wiener Maskentheater. Toured Germany and Austria as solo cellist with award-winning Rilke Projekt Live.
Inspiration Turtle Island String Quartet, Kronos Quartet, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin
Quirks Favorite pastime: shoe shopping. I own too many pairs of shoes!