Harlem Quartet

The Harlem Quartet has sought to broaden both the repertory and the audience for string quartet music. The Harlem Quartet was formed in 2006. The group's members are first violinist Ilmar Gavilán, second violinist Melissa White, violist Jaime Amador, and cellist Felix Umansky. In 2007, the group released its debut album, Take the "A" Train. In 2009, the quartet played for President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Harlem Quartet issued an album of string quartets by Walter Piston in 2010. In 2011, the quartet issued the album Paul Chihara: Love Music. The Harlem Quartet has released several more albums, including Clarinet Quintets for Our Time (with clarinetist David Shifrin and the Dover Quartet) in 2019 and Passion for Coltrane and Bach by Jeff Scott in 2023 with the Imani Winds. ~ James Manheim