DOMINION STRING QUARTET

Yury Gezentsvey, first violin
Rosemary Harris, second violin
Donald Maurice, viola
David Chickering, cello

The Dominion String Quartet was formed in 2006 specifically to record string quartets by New Zealand composers, and has taken its name from the centenary of the creation of the dominion of New Zealand in 1907. This event coincided with the Christchurch International Exhibition of 1906–07 at which Alfred Hill was the conductor of the country’s first full-time professional orchestra. His seventeen string quartets provided the perfect initial project for the DSQ as they are not only the first significant examples of the string quartet genre from Australasia, but are also very fine works of international stature.

Following the unprecedented success of Alfred Hill’s String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Naxos 8.570491), through international reviews and broadcasts, the DSQ has established a significant concert profile and is joined on occasion by acclaimed pianist Richard Mapp, as the New Zealand Dominion Piano Quintet.

Yury Gezentsvey (first violin), originally from Russia, is a principal first violinist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician and Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music.

Rosemary Harris (second violin), previously Associate Concertmaster of Nashville Symphony Orchestra and a first violinist in the acclaimed Pittsburgh symphony, plays regularly with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. (On Alfred Hill’s String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Naxos  8.572097) in Quartet No. 6, the second violin part is played by David Pucher, original member of the group.)

Donald Maurice (viola) is Professor at the New Zealand School of Music, an author and music editor, and has been a regular performer and lecturer at International Viola Congresses for over two decades.

David Chickering (cello), originally from the United States and formerly a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is principal cellist of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and an Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music.

From left to right: Donald Maurice, David Chickering, Rosemary Harris, Yuri Gezentsvey
Photo by Lucien Rizos

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Dominion String Quartet) - Nos. 1, 2, 3	8.570491
HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Dominion String Quartet) - Nos. 4, 6, 8	8.572097
HILL, Alfred: String Quartets, Vol. 3 (Dominion String Quartet) - Nos. 5, 7, 9	8.572446