"Really, I can't envision a more inspiring and well-organized event."
Scott Linder, SPSQC Parent
2020 SPSQC Program Book
SPSQC 2020 Online
Welcome to Competition Day! The first ever online SPSQC finals begins at 1pm Central Time.
There will be Six excellent young quartets from around the country competing for prizes and prestige. We have the exciting Catalyst Quartet with us today as our jury and lots of well wishers on the web to hear some great string quartet playing.
If you want to be an "arm-chair" jury member here are links to the actual forms the jury is using today:
Please donate funds to keep this unique event going strong!
Ray Shows, Founder and Artistic Administrator
Meet the 2020 Finalists
Catalyst Quartet
For 2020 we are delighted to have the exciting Catalyst Quartet as our Final rounds jury. Hailed by the New York Times at their Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished…playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet is comprised of top Laureates and alumni of the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Competition. Known for “rhythmic energy, polyphonic clarity and tight ensemble-playing,” the ensemble has toured throughout the United States and abroad, including sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, at Chicago’s Harris Theater, Miami’s New World Center and Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in New York.
2019 SPSQC Finalists
News & Events
April 19, 2019
2019 Prizewinners
ST. PAUL – Sunday, April 14, 2019
The 2019 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition (SPSQC), the nation’s premiere event for high school string quartets, was held on April 13 in Sundin Music Hall on the campus of Hamline University in Minnesota.
From another strong pool of applicants, six outstanding high school quartets were selected to compete in two rounds of competition judged by the renowned Brentano String Quartet. The preparation and performance level of the quartets were once again excellent; each ensemble showed a distinct voice in some of the most challenging repertoire possible for an enthusiastic and supportive audience in attendance and viewing online (548 votes were cast). Chamber music is in good hands for the future.
This year’s Gold medalist ensemble... (click button below to read more)
April 05, 2019
2019 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition Finalists Selected
ST. PAUL – April 5, 2019
The Saint Paul String Quartet Competition will host America’s best high school string quartets on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Six outstanding quartets have been selected by a renowned professional jury and will be coming to Hamline University's Sundin Music Hall to compete for prizes, national recognition and the opportunity to play great chamber music. The competition begins at 1:00pm and is free and open to the public. Live web stream: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamlineadmin/
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