Ashley Walters | cello

The Formalist Quartet is an ensemble dedicated to the performance of adventurous repertoire focusing on contemporary pieces and world premiers as well as exploring a diverse spectrum of early music and the standard repertoire.  The quartet was born on the 100th birthday of Dmitri Shostakovich (September 25^th, 2006) and since then has been playing frequently across the United States in concert halls, festivals, art galleries, cafes, and homes, including the Roy O. Disney Hall at CalArts; REDCAT at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles; the Wulf, Los Angeles; University of California, San Diego; Stanford University; University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; the Flatfile Galleries, Chicago; University of Nevada, Reno; Cornelia Street Cafe, New York; MOSA Concert Series, New York; Princeton University; the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts; the Villa Aurora, Pacific Palisades; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; LISTEN/SPACE, New York; Hamiltonian Gallery, Washington DC; ArtSpace Herndon, Virginia; and the Et Cetera New Music Festival. Their recordings include the epic 100 Cadences of Arthur Jarvinen, music for several small films and pop records, a forthcoming release of Kristian Ireland’s Clearing on the -541- series through Innova records, and an upcoming CD including works by Luigi Nono, Schnittke, and more.  The quartet is about to embark on recording and releasing all of the string quartets by Leo Wadada Smith.  Since the Fall of 2009 the Formalists have been the Quartet-in-Residence at the Villa Aurora presenting concerts of Villa Aurora fellows and Southern California composers.  Upcoming events include two concerts at the REDCAT at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a concert appearance at the Reykjavik Arts Festival in Iceland presenting works by Gerard Grisey, Nicholas Deyoe and others.