“Unique. Rare. Fascinating. Heavenly.”
— BOB SAAR, THE HAWK EYE
Founded in 2012, the Chicago Harp Quartet has established itself as the leading harp ensemble in the United States. The Quartet brings its signature mix of original transcriptions of Baroque, Classical and Romantic repertoire and new works by the world’s leading composers. The Quartet is dedicated to presenting innovative and charismatic programs to stages and audiences of all sorts. Every CHQ performance is a unique experience, bringing together the four members’ extensive and diverse solo careers and their combined dedication to sharing the excitement of the harp quartet literature.
The Chicago Harp Quartet has performed at major concert venues across the US and abroad including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Ravinia Festival, Curtis Institute of Music and the National Theater in Havana, Cuba. The Quartet has collaborated with artists including Third Coast Percussion, the International Chamber Ensemble, Duo Scorpio, Mozawa, and Ho Etsu Taiko.
In 2024 the quartet are Artists in Residence at the Midwest Harp Featival and will perform for the Rush Hour series in Chicago.
The Quartet is devoted to educating its audiences and reaching students of all disciplines. CHQ is sought after for masterclasses and educational residencies (recently at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, New York University, Vanderbilt University and Play On Philly!) and continues to inspire young harpists through their work with the Chicago Harp Ensemble.
CHQ is featured frequently on WFMT Chicago (98.7FM) and has performed for the Lyon & Healy 150th Anniversary Festival and 2015 Summer Concert Series, 41st National Conference of the American Harp Society in New Orleans, Norton Building Series, Dame Myra Hess Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center and Ear Taxi Festival.
Among ongoing commissioning projects, the Quartet has premiered works by Bernard Andres, Nicholas Davies, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, Carolyn O’Brien, and Hilary Purrington. In 2014, the Quartet released their highly successful debut CD, Soirées d’été and in 2018 their second disc, Dance Sketches.
Rush Hour Concerts are made possible through the generosity of the Zell Family Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and contributions from individual donors.
