This is a rebroadcast of the KAIA String Quartet from June 5, 2017.
From the tango of the Rio de la Plata to the string quartets of Silvestre Revueltas, the KAIA String Quartet is an ensemble devoted to promoting the rich and colorful music of Latin America. Active performers in both the US and abroad, highlights of the 2019-2020 season include a residency at the Avaloch Farm Institute, a tour of Argentina and Uruguay, as well as performances at concert series in North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The Quartet plays an active role in Chicago’s music scene where they are regular guests at the Chicago Latino Music Festival and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Most recently they were the ensemble in residence at Chicago’s classical radio station, WFMT. During this residency they explored the world of Latin classical music with audiences through daily radio segments, performances and broadcasts around the city and the production of KAIA Kids, a series of children’s education videos.
Celebrated for its ability to “beautifully blur the lines between jazz, classical, Latin and world music” KAIA’s recent album collaboration with Fareed Haque was chosen by the Chicago Tribune as one of the top ten classical musical recordings of 2018. Their latest album, Sureño, explores the music and relationship of composers Astor Piazzolla and José Bragato. Upcoming recording projects include a collaboration with jazz pianist Ryan Cohan and his work Originations. This piece will be part of Chicago’s Jazz Fest main stage.
KAIA is deeply devoted to music education. From 2013-2017, the quartet traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to present and perform in schools through the sponsorship of the Mainly Mozart Festival. They are teaching artists for Ravinia’s Reach*Teach*Play program and for the International Music Foundation’s Live Music Now program. KAIA is currently in residence at DePaul University’s Community Music Division.
Biography courtesy of the artist’s website.