Throughout its distinguished career the Esterhazy Quartet has delighted audiences on three continents, performing at venues such as the Haydn Festspiele in Austria, the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada and the Beethoven Society in Santiago de Chile. Critics have praised the Esterhazy Quartet for its intelligence, refinement, and warmth of sound, described as a “velvety palette of tonal colors” (La Nacion, Buenos Aires). 

Taking its name from Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy, the patron of composer Joseph Haydn (considered the “father” of the string quartet), the Esterhazy Quartet has appeared at several important music festivals in the United States and abroad, including the Western Arts Festival, the Classical Music Seminar in Eisenstadt, Austria, and the International Music Festival of Pará in Belém, Brazil. Frequently throughout the last four decades the Esterhazy Quartet has performed live on National Public Radio, including a recent appearance on WGBH Boston’s Classical Performances. 

Formed in 1968 as the ensemble-in-residence of the University of Missouri, the Esterhazy Quartet is widely recognized for its commitment to performing and promoting the music of our time, especially modern music of the Americas.  The Esterhazy Quartet maintains one of the largest collections of Latin American string quartets in the United States, and is responsible for the commission, world premiere and recording of several new American string quartets. 

Recent recordings by the Esterhazy Quartet include the complete string quartets of James Willey, available on Albany and New World Records/CRI. David DeBoor Canfield, of Fanfare magazine raves, “The coruscating playing of the Esterhazy Quartet can scarcely be over-praised. Any composer would be gratified to have his work presented in such stellar fashion.” The Quartet’s latest CD release on Albany features works by Samuel Adler, including String Quartet No. 9, written for the Esterhazy Quartet for its Fortieth Anniversary Celebration. 

In addition to collaborating with contemporary composers, the Esterhazy Quartet actively promotes the advancement of the string quartet art form through master classes, seminars and workshops for young performers and composers, including an annual residency for composers at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a yearly summer chamber music seminar at the University of Missouri.