THE OVERLOOK

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ABOUT

Animated by a shared expansive view of the chamber music experience, the “breathtaking”, “paradigm-shifting” (New York Music Daily) string quartet, The Overlook, curates vibrant, unexpected programs that transform sometimes unfamiliar music into unforgettable experiences that audiences crave hearing again.

Based in New York City, the quartet, comprised of violinists Monica Davis and Yezu Woo, violist Angela Pickett, and cellist Laura Metcalf has been presented in performances and residencies around the country, highlighting the work of living composers, with recent collaborations including performing with NY Philharmonic clarinetist Anthony McGill at Fotografiska NY’s inaugural Unfiltered Festival, an immersive experience playing in the life size sculptural installations of artist, Linda Sormin at MassMOCA, and bringing joyful energy to a performance of a meditative work for string quartet and improvising musician with jazz legend, Joe Lovano.

The quartet formed in 2020 from a simple need to make and share music with others during the pandemic shutdown. The longtime friends, some of New York’s most accomplished string players, gathered to play outdoors in parks and on street corners in Upper Manhattan and their community stopped to listen. Through these casual outdoor performances, they built a following in person and online, connected with local businesses, composers and residential enclaves - eventually partnering with neighborhood cultural centers for their first official performances. They witnessed firsthand the power of music to unite and inspire.

Building lasting relationships with composers and consistently championing new works, engaging with collaborators across disciplines, and sharing with their local community, The Overlook captivates audiences with a more relevant chamber music experience.