PROGRAM I – AMERICAN ALBUM: VOICES OF HOME
Samuel Barber: Quartet No. 1 in B minor
George Walker: “Lyric for Strings”
Caroline Shaw: “Microfictions [Vol. 1]” (2021), commissioned for the Miró Quartet
*****
Kevin Puts: “Home” (2019), commissioned for the Miró Quartet
American Songbook Suite: “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, “Fascinating Rhythm”, “Over the Rainbow”

PROGRAM IIA – GINASTERA QUARTETS
Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 1, Op. 20
Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 3, Op. 40 with Kiera Duffy, soprano
*****
Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 2, Op. 26

PROGRAM IIB – HAYDN, GINASTERA, & DEBUSSY
Joseph Haydn: Quartet in D major, Op. 71, No. 2
Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 1, Op. 20 -OR- Ginastera: Quartet No. 2, Op. 26
****
Claude Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

PROGRAM III (FALL 2025)
The Miró Quartet Holiday Program! A festive evening of original arrangements of 12 of our favorite living composers’ favorite Holiday Tunes…with other holiday favorites arranged for string quartet. Composers include Clarice Assad, Alex Berko, Michael Begay, Anna Clyne, Reena Esmail, Jake Heggie, Hyung-ki Joo, Gabriel Kahane, Joel Love, Paola Prestini, Kevin Puts, Jeff Scott, Derrick Skye, and Michi Wiancko.

PROGRAM IV (SPRING 2026) – TWO TITANS AT TWO HUNDRED
Franz Schubert: Quartet in G major, D. 887 (June 1826)
*****
Ludwig van Beethoven: Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130, with the “Grosse Fuge” finale from Op. 133 (March 1826)
-OR-
Ludwig van Beethoven: Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826)

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS
PROGRAM I – AMERICAN QUINTETS
with Masumi Per Rostad, viola
Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Viola Quintet, “Primal Message”
Michael Begay: New commission
Andrea Casarrubios: “Anthem”, new commission
*****
Antonín Dvořák: Viola Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 97 “American”

PROGRAM II -MUSICAL MYSTICS
A program of music for Saxophone and String Quartet
with Steven Banks and the Miró Quartet

Hildegarde of Bingen: O Virtus Sapientiae
Caroline Shaw: Other Song, And So
Ludwig van Beethoven: Heiliger Dankgesang from String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132
Steven Banks: Come What May
*****
Osvaldo Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Issac the Blind

“My current obsession as an artist is in exploring the concepts of timelessness and ultimate truths like interconnectedness. The act of creating this piece will be a meditation on the concepts explored by the other works on this program; wisdom, the passage of time, faith, communion, transience, and others that I am sure to find along the way. The set of songs at the beginning of the program allows the saxophone to explore its vocal abilities. Golijov’s Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind draws influence from Klezmer music. The Yiddish word klezmer derives from two Hebrew roots: klei (“vessel” or “instrument”) and zemer (“song”). In my piece, the saxophone and its string counterparts will sing. There may be references to the spiritual songs of my youth, and perhaps from the singing styles of the other composers on the program, among other possibilities.”
-Steven Banks, composer

“What’s old is new is ever ever told…”
-Other Song, Caroline Shaw

PROGRAM III (SPRING 2026)
Collaborative Program with soprano Karen Slack, featuring a new commission by Tamar-kali based on texts from the women of the Harlem Renaissance, along with works for quartet and voice by Margaret Bonds, William Grant Still, and Florence Price.

Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11 [I. Molto allegro e appassionato]
William Grant Still: Songs of Separation (arr. Largess)
Tamar-kali: New Work
Barber: Quartet in B minor, Op. 11 [II. Molto adagio; III. Molto allegro]
****
George Walker: Lyric for Strings
Florence Price: Quartet No. 2 in A Minor [III. Juba. Allegro]
Margaret Bonds: Creek-Freedman Songs

PROGRAM IV - “SINGING THE BIG BAND BLUES”
A program of music for Baritone and String Quartet with Joseph Parrish and the Miró Quartet

Rising star baritone Joseph Parrish and the Miró Quartet explore the sound and swing of the Big Band Era in new arrangements for strings and voice by composer Christopher Armstrong. The program is inspired by Benny Goodman’s many and various vocal collaborators such as Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Mildred Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. Songs include “Begins the Beguine”, “I cried for you”, “A night in Tunisia” among others.

Program I –  Two Titans at 200
Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D887
*****
Beethoven: Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130, with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Program II – Vienna 200
Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703, “Quartettsatz” -OR- Anton Webern: Langsamer Satz for String Quartet
Alban Berg: Lyric Suite for String Quartet
*****
Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D887

Program III – Home
Kevin Puts: Home for String Quartet
Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11 -OR- Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 1, Op. 20
*****
Antonín Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, "American"
Jay Ungar: Ashokan Farewell (arr. William Fedkenheuer)
Evin T. Rouse: Orange Blossom Special (arr. William Fedkenheuer)

Program IV - Mirrored Sound
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat major, Op. 18, No. 6, IV. La Malinconia. Adagio
Caroline Shaw: Blueprint
Movement selections from: Henri Dutilleux “Ainsi la Nuit” (1976)
Movement selections from: George Crumb “Black Angels” (1970)
*****
Alberto Ginastera: Quartet No. 2, Op. 26

Holiday Program 2026 

Home & Hearth
Kevin Puts: Home for String Quartet
Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11
*****
Holiday set (30-minutes)* 

* Selections from beloved classical and holiday favorites, reimagined in vibrant new arrangements by a who’s who of today’s leading composers including Kevin Puts, Clarice Assad, Gabriel Kahane, Derrick Skye, Paola Prestini, Anna Clyne, Jeff Scott, and more.

One-Act Programs
75-minute interactive programs with commentary - successful in concert halls, community, and fundraising settings.

Program I
Hugo Wolf: Italian Serenade
George Walker: Lyric for Strings
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet No. 2 in D major, Op. 71 (complete or selections)
Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11, “Adagio”
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 (complete or selections)
Kevin Puts: “Home,” Opening Movement
Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10, III. Andantino, doucement expressif & IV. En animant peu à peu – Très mouvementé et avec passion

Program II
Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703, “Quartettsatz”
Caroline Shaw: Microfictions vol. 1
Joseph Haydn: Quartet TBD (complete or selections)
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major, II. Assez vif, très rythmé
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 2 in E minor, Op. 59, IV. Finale. Presto

Collaborative & Upcoming Commission Programs

New Commission from Clarice Assad
A new commission in development by esteemed composer Clarice Assad for string quartet, more information coming soon.

Strings and Saxophone with Steven Banks
A powerful and wide-ranging program for saxophone and string quartet with Steven Banks and the Miró Quartet, featuring Banks’ original work Come What May alongside music by Hildegard of Bingen, Caroline Shaw, Beethoven, and Osvaldo Golijov.

Strings and Soprano with Karen Slack
This program features a new 15-minute work by acclaimed composer Tamar-kali, inspired by the poetry of Harlem Renaissance women, performed by soprano Karen Slack and the Miró Quartet, alongside works by Barber, Margaret Bonds, Florence Price, George Walker, William Grant Still, and Stephen Taylor.

PROGRAM IA –  QUARTET CLASSICS (FALL 2027)
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73
*****
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131 -OR- Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135

PROGRAM IB –  QUARTET CLASSICS (SPRING 2027)
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, "Emperor"
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73
*****
Debussy: String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10 -OR- Ravel: String Quartet in F Major

PROGRAM II – MIRRORED SOUND
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6, IV. La Malinconia. Adagio
Caroline Shaw: “Blueprint”
Movement selections from: Henri Dutilleux “Ainsi la Nuit” (1976)
Movement selections from: George Crumb “Black Angels” (1970)
*****
Alberto Ginastera: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26

PROGRAM III - RAíCES: ECHOES OF LATION SOUL
Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga: String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Major
Clarice Assad: New Work*
*****
Silvestre Revueltas: Música de Feria
Alberto Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20

*A new work celebrating the string quartet in Latin world culture is being commissioned for premiere by the Miró Quartet in 2027. Lead commissioning organizations include the Harvard Musical Association in Boston, MA, and the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in the San Juan Islands in WA. To be featured on an all-Latin quartet program featuring works by Arriaga, Revueltas, Ginastera, and others. 

Clarice Assad (born February 9, 1978) is a Brazilian-American composer, pianist, arranger, singer, and educator from Rio de Janeiro. She is influenced by popular Brazilian culture, Romanticism, world music, and jazz. She comes from a musical family, which includes her father, guitarist Sergio Assad, her uncle, guitarist Odair Assad, and her aunt, singer-songwriter Badi Assad.

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS 2027

HEARTH - NO INTERMISSION (90 MINUTES)
arr. by Clarice Assad: In Dulci Jubilo
arr. by Kevin Puts: The First Noel
arr. by Michi Wiancko: Jingle Bells
arr. by Reena Esmail: I Wonder As I Wander
arr. by Karl Mitze of Invoke Quartet: Deck The Halls
arr. by Samuel Lipman: Ma’oz Tzur
arr. by Alex Berko: In The Bleak Midwinter
arr. by Anna Clyne: Mothers’ Lullaby
arr. by Jeff Scott: Wexford Carol
Transcribed by Gabriel Kahane: Halfspent, “Lo, how a rose…”
arr. by Michael Begay: O Come All Ye Faithful
arr. by Paola Prestini: Dejlig er Den Himmel Blå
arr. by Derrick Skye: We Three
arr. by Joel Love: Silent Night
arr. by Hyung-ki Joo: Songs of Christmas Past

HEARTH - WITH INTERMISSION
Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op 11, I. Allegro e Semplice

arr. by Clarice Assad: In Dulci Jubilo
arr. by Kevin Puts: The First Noel
arr. by Michi Wiancko: Jingle Bells
arr. by Reena Esmail: I Wonder As I Wander
arr. by Karl Mitze of Invoke Quartet: Deck The Halls

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op 11, II. Andante Cantabile

arr. by Samuel Lipman: Ma’oz Tzur
arr. by Alex Berko: In The Bleak Midwinter
arr. by Anna Clyne: Mothers’ Lullaby
arr. by Jeff Scott: Wexford Carol
*****
Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op 11, III. Scherzo, Allegro non tanto e con fuoco, trio

Transcribed by Gabriel Kahane: Halfspent, “Lo, how a rose…”
arr. by Michael Begay: O Come All Ye Faithful
arr. by Paola Prestini: Dejlig er Den Himmel Blå
arr. by Derrick Skye: We Three

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op 11, IV. Finale, Allegro giusto - Allegro voice

arr. by Hyung-ki Joo: Songs of Christmas Past