The BREK Quartet

Ruth Sklarsky, violin

Barbara McIver, viola

Ellen Henry, violin

Kathy Lewis, cello

Lasting bonds through chamber music

Playing in a regular string quartet is kind of like having a regular foursome in golf – everyone needs to be of roughly similar ability, and they also need to get along. When those two dynamics come together, the result can be a lasting chamber group that brings enduring friendships.

Such is the case with our Members of the Month for October – Ruth Sklarsky, Barbara McIver, Ellen Henry and Kathy Lewis, residents of the Rochester, N.Y., area who have played in a string quartet for more than a decade. They got together and collectively answered a few questions about their musical journey.

When did your quartet start playing together? 

2014

How did you meet?

We had various connections through several orchestras that we played in over the years. Rochester is kind of a big small town for musicians.

How often do you play? 

Like herding cats, it’s somewhat random. We are often apart for months at a time. But we take advantage of any times we can be together, and are committed to and treasure those times of music-making, friendship, food, and wine (after playing).

What composers?

Most often we begin with a read through of a randomly selected quartet by Papa Haydn. Haydn has a way of welcoming us back from wherever we have been and settling us into chamber music as it was intended.  With friends, at home and just for fun. 

Once we are warmed up, anything goes. Just last week we decided to rekindle our long-term goal to read through, in chronological order, every string quartet written by Beethoven.

What role has ACMP played in your chamber music life? 

We are all members. We have been contacted by and welcomed ACMP members from as far away as California to join us for an evening of chamber music while visiting Rochester N.Y. We have also taken advantage of hiring a coach for a session in preparation for a performance.  And of course the highlight — participation in the recent Chautauqua Chamber Players play-in supported by ACMP. We loved getting to know and making music there with other ACMP members from far and wide.