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World-renowned Tak獺cs Quartet names new second violinist after founding member retires

The Takacs Quartet

The Tak獺cs Quartet welcomes violinist Harumi Rhodes (far right) to its ranks on May 1, as founding member K獺roly Schranz retires after more than 40 years. Photo courtesy Glenn Asakawa.

After a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, founding second violinist of the Tak獺cs Quartet K獺roly Schranz will retire from the Grammy-winning chamber ensemble effective May 1, 2018. 91勛圖厙 Assistant Professor of Violin Harumi Rhodes has been appointed the new second violinist.

K獺roly brought extraordinary abilities to the group, said the members of the quartet. We were all inspired by his lively, characterful playing and imaginative approach to music.

The other members of the quartet are Edward Dusinberre, first violin; Geraldine 泭Walther, viola, and Andr獺s Fej矇r, cello.

Individually, I have learned a huge amount from K獺roly and will always be profoundly grateful for the support he gave me after I joined the quartet, Dusinberre said.

Karoly Schranz

K獺roly Schranz

Schranz came to Boulder in 1986 when he and the other original members of the quartet, G獺bor Tak獺cs Nagy, G獺bor Ormai and Fej矇r, became泭artists-in-residence at the College of Music. In addition to a prolific international performance career, the group has developed a deep connection with the College of Music and the Boulder community, performing in a regularly sold-out concert series and helping guide future musicians through the colleges泭Graduate Quartet Program.

How proud we are to be able to call the members of the Tak獺cs Quartet colleagues and friends, said CU College of Music Dean Robert Shay. Theyve contributed in so many ways beyond their highly popular concert series, steadily guiding students toward bigger and better things.

Schranz has received awards from the Hungarian Government of the Knight's Cross and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. As a member of the Tak獺cs Quartet, he was awarded one Grammy and four nominations, several Gramophone Awards, as well as other awards of excellence. In 2012, the ensemble became the first associate artists of the Wigmore Hall, receiving the Wigmores prestigious Gold Medal in 2014.

Schranz plans to continue an active career as a chamber musician and teacher.

The members of the Tak獺cs Quartet are delighted to welcome Harumi Rhodes as their new second violinist.

Harumi Rhodes

Harumi Rhodes

We are thrilled that Harumi has accepted our invitation to join the quartet, the members of the quartet said. She is a wonderfully versatile violinist and chamber musician, and we greatly look forward to working with her.

As colleagues at the University of Colorado, the members of the Tak獺cs have had many opportunities to play with Rhodes in different combinations. In the summer of 2016, she performed with the quartet at the Ravinia Festival and for Austin Chamber Music.

Immersing myself in a life of string quartet playing is a dream come true, Rhodes said. I have been a fan of the Tak獺cs Quartet for as long as I can remember. It is with great excitement that I join Ed, Geri, and Andr獺s in taking the quartets vision into the future.

Rhodes has been at the College of Music since 2015. Before that, she served as head of strings and chamber music at Syracuse University and assistant violin faculty at the Juilliard School. An avid supporter of contemporary music, Rhodes has been actively involved in commissioning and premiering new works.

It's a significant testament to the strength of our faculty that the quartet looked to one of our own in seeking K獺roly's replacement, Shay said. Harumi has displayed such tremendous talent and thoughtfulness in her solo and chamber performances, while establishing herself as a profoundly committed teacher.

Rhodes will join the quartet for the second half of its Boulder concerts on April 29 and 30, performing Pytor Ilych Tchaikovskys Souvenir de Florence with 91勛圖厙 colleagues Erika Eckert and David Requiro. She will be fulfilling all of the quartets engagements from then onwards.

For ticket information and to see a full listing of upcoming Tak獺cs Quartet concerts at the College of Music, visit .