Jackson Hole Wyoming Events

Since 1985, Turtle Island Quartet has been redefining chamber music for strings, breathing new life into the classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles.  Violinist and TIQ founder David Balakrishnan has earned two Grammy nominations for instrumental arrangement by developing this composition style based on stylistic integration applied to bowed string instruments. Turtle Island Quartet has revived a venerable improvisational and compositional chamber tradition that has not been explored by string players in nearly 200 years – the days of Haydn's legendary creation of the string quartet form.  At this time, musicians were more akin to the improvisational styles of today's jazz masters, and each member of TIQ is accomplished in this area of expertise in addition to their extensive conservatory training.  Balakrishan is joined by TIQ veteran cellist Mark Summer and new members violinist Mateusz Smoczynski, and violist Benjamin von Gutzeit.