Dominion String Quartet

Yury Gezentsvey, violin I
Rosemary Harris, violin II
Donald Maurice, viola
David Chickering, cello

The Dominion String Quartet was formed in 2006 specifically to record string quartets by New Zealand composers, and took its name from the centenary of the creation of the Dominion of New Zealand in 1907. This event coincided with the Christchurch International Exhibition of 1906–07 at which Alfred Hill was the conductor of the country’s first full-time professional orchestra. His seventeen string quartets provided the perfect initial project for the DSQ as they are not only the first significant examples of the string quartet genre from Australasia, but are also very fine works of international stature. Following the success of Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (Naxos 8.570491, 8.572097, and 8.572446) the DSQ has established a significant concert profile. They are joined in ‘Life’ by pianist Richard Mapp and eight prominent New Zealand singers.

Yury Gezentsvey (1st violin), originally from Russia, is a principal first violinist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician and an artist-teacher at the New Zealand School of Music.

Rosemary Harris (2nd violin) previously Associate Concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and a first violinist in the acclaimed Pittsburgh symphony, is a widely experienced chamber musician and currently plays with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Donald Maurice (viola) is Professor at the New Zealand School of Music, an author and music editor, a well-known soloist and chamber musician, and has regularly performed and lectured at International Viola Congresses for two decades.

David Chickering (cello), originally from the USA and formerly a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and until recently principal cellist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, is an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician, and an artist-teacher at the New Zealand School of Music.

From left to right: Donald Maurice, David Chickering, Rosemary Harris, Yuri Gezentsvey Photo by Lucien Rizos

ClassicsOnline Exclusive: String Quartet ...
USD 6.99

HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 1 ...
USD 6.99

HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 2 ...
USD 6.99

HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 3 ...
USD 6.99

HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 4 ...
USD 6.99

PIGOVAT, B.: Requiem, "The Holocaust" / ...
USD 7.99