Emissary Quartet (EQ) is dedicated to expanding the flute quartet repertoire by commissioning and performing new works, creating innovative educational programming, and reaching out to new audiences to advocate for the flute quartet as a genre. 

 

Unconstrained by geographical boundaries, the flutists of EQ live across the United States - Texas, California, Ohio, and New York - and meet for performance and teaching residencies throughout the year. The 2024 season includes travels to NYC to present a premier collaborative performance entitled UTILITY with Synchronous, a creative dance lab and performance group, a partnership with the Mannes Prep composition department to premier a full program of new flute quartets, a presentation at the National Flute Association annual convention titled "Reaching Out: Making Interdisciplinary Connections," and a residency in Houston, Texas. Past residencies have taken EQ to Utah, Iowa, Austin, New York City, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Houston, including performances and workshops at The University of Texas at San Antonio, Baylor University, West Virginia University,  Carnegie Mellon University, Flutistry Boston, and Avaloch Farm Music Institute.

 

EQ continually curates a catalogue of new works that fully exploits the dynamic expressive capabilities of four flutes together. The quartet has commissioned or premiered pieces by Owen Eddy (Utility Spaces), Annika Socolofsky (one wish, your honey lips), Peter Kramer (Wedge), Kai-Young Chan (Jo-Ha-Kyu), and Sunghyun Yun (Recurrence). The ensemble held an International Call for Scores throughout the 2016-2017 season and received over 190 submissions from composers across the globe. Three winning works were chosen to be performed and recorded, and videos of all three pieces can be viewed on YouTube. The ensemble has received support from New Music USA, the Friends of Flute Foundation, the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and the Fromm Foundation at Harvard University. Emissary Quartet continues to develop fruitful collaborative relationships with composers to further the music of their generation and make flute quartet music a significant part of the sound landscape of today.

 

The quartet’s serious commitment to expanding the flute quartet repertoire is paired with an eagerness to share this music with new audiences in person and online, and to inspire young musicians and flutists. EQ has led workshops for flute students of the Utah Suzuki Association and Seattle Music Partners focusing on extended techniques and ensemble playing. In April 2017, EQ partnered with Seattle-based composer and teaching artist Kaley Lane Eaton for a Young Composer’s Workshop, in which middle school and high school students explored their musical creativity through writing short pieces for Emissary Quartet. The quartet has presented at the National Flute Association Convention twice, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, and for both the New Jersey and Utah flute societies.

 

Founded in 2009 by students of Jeanne Baxtresser and Alberto Almarza at Carnegie Mellon University, Emissary Quartet (then under the name Con Brio Flutes). While at CMU, Emissary Quartet was invited to play in Carnegie Mellon’s Collage Concert, the annual School of Music showcase and the 2010 Festival de Musica de Santa Catarina in Brazil. In May 2016, EQ competed at the live quarterfinal round of the Fischoff Competition. 

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The members of Emissary Quartet are Allison Asthana, Kari Boyer, Sarah Shin, and Chelsea Tanner.