C³ — Concert • Clinic • Conversation with the Poiesis Quartet

Hoff-Barthelson Music School (HBMS), in collaboration with the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, is proud to present a special event: C³ – Concert • Clinic • Conversation, featuring the acclaimed Poiesis Quartet, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at Hoff-Barthelson Music School. The event is open to all who wish to experience chamber music in an intimate, interactive format.

Event Highlights

• Concert – A short but powerful live performance by the Poiesis Quartet.
• Clinic – HBMS Chamber Music Program students will work directly with the Quartet in a master-class style session, offering rare behind-the-scenes insight into rehearsal and ensemble craft.
• Conversation – The Quartet will engage with the audience, offering reflections on their artistry, answering questions, and inviting dialogue about chamber music and performance.

Laura Giannini, Chair of HBMS’s Chamber Music Program, shared, “We are thrilled to bring our students into such close collaboration with the Poiesis Quartet. Experiences like this—where students not only listen and observe but also play alongside world-class musicians—are transformative. They deepen our students’ musical growth while connecting them to the vibrant professional world of chamber music.

“We’re honored that Caramoor’s commitment to artist development aligns so strongly with what the Poiesis Quartet is creating,” remarked Gabriella Sanna, Executive Director of Hoff-Barthelson Music School. “At Hoff-Barthelson, our students benefit from access to outstanding artist-educators and experiences that connect them directly to world-class performers. Events like this exemplify the excellence and inspiration that define a Hoff-Barthelson education — where learning happens not only in the studio, but through vibrant collaborations with today’s leading musicians.”

About the Poiesis Quartet

Founded at the Oberlin Conservatory’s Advanced String Quartet Seminar in Fall 2022, the Poiesis Quartet is composed of violinists Sarah Ying Ma and Max Ball, violist Jasper de Boor, and cellist Drew Dansby. Their name derives from the ancient Greek word ποιεῖν (“to make”) — a reflection of the quartet’s mission to create something new and meaningful in each performance.

The ensemble has garnered rapidly rising acclaim:

• Grand Prize winners of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC)
• Grand Prize and Lift Every Voice Prize winners of the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
• Selected as the 2025–26 Ernst Stiefel Quartet-in-Residence at Caramoor

They currently serve as the Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), studying with the renowned Ariel Quartet.

The Poiesis Quartet’s trajectory illustrates both a deep command of the standard quartet repertoire and a passionate commitment to commissioning contemporary works and championing underrepresented composers.

About the Residency at Caramoor

As the Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence for the 2025–26 season, the Poiesis Quartet will be based at Caramoor, participating in concert presentations, community-based education, and ensemble development activities. The residency emphasizes both high-level performance and meaningful interaction with students and local audiences, including school visits, master classes, and in-house workshops.

Through the residency, the Quartet will not only present public performances but also engage deeply with educational outreach and artistic growth — aligning with Caramoor’s mission of cultivating the next generation of great performers and listeners.

About Hoff-Barthelson Music School

Founded in 1944, Hoff-Barthelson Music School is one of the nation’s premier community music schools and a leader in music education for students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. Located in Scarsdale, NY, the School is renowned for its exceptional faculty, comprehensive curriculum, and nurturing environment that fosters both artistic and personal growth. Guided by its mission to inspire excellence and welcome all, Hoff-Barthelson offers individualized instruction, ensemble experiences, and performance opportunities that cultivate a lifelong love and understanding of music.