Ulysses Quartet

Founded in the summer of 2015, the Ulysses Quartet — violinists Christina Bouey and Rhiannon Banerdt, violist Colin Brookes, and cellist Grace Ho — hails from Canada, the United States and Taiwan. They have been praised for their “textural versatility,” “grave beauty,” and “gentle blanket of colour” by The Strad, as well as their “avid enthusiasm... [with] chops to back up their passion” and “vibrant sonority” by the San Diego Story. The group’s name pays homage to Homer’s hero Odysseus and his 10 year voyage home, as well as to U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, whose final resting place is in close proximity to the group's homebase in Upper Manhattan.

The group have performed in such prestigious halls as the Harbin Grand Theatre, Jordan Hall, and the Taiwan National Recital Hall. Recent season highlights have included appearances at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, La Jolla Music Society Summerfest, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Bargemusic, Eastman School of Music, a quartet residency for the Zukerman Young Artist Program, and debuts at Premiere Performances Hong Kong and the Vietnam Connection Festival.

The Ulysses Quartet were also in residence for three years at the Louis Moreau Institute in New Orleans, working with the composer Morris Rosenzweig. The group have also worked with composer Joseph Summer at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, recording his quartets.

The Ulysses Quartet believes in the power of music to inspire, enlighten, and bring people together, and is committed to sharing this passion by increasing access to, and appreciation for, classical music while also enhancing audience engagement. To this end, the quartet offers interactive programs and workshops for all ages that serve to demystify the traditional repertoire, while also introducing audiences to exciting new works. Their programs frequently enable participants to learn about the inner workings of a string quartet and explore the connections between classical music and our world today.

The members of Ulysses hold degrees from the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, and Yale University. The musicians perform on instruments and bows graciously on loan from the Canada Council of the Arts Instrument Bank and the Maestro Foundation. They are represented by Judson Management Group, Inc.

Awards and Accolades

• First Prize, 2018 Schoenfeld International String Competition

• Grand Prize and Gold Medal, Senior String Division, 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition

• First Prize, 2017 American Prize

• Second Prize, 2017 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition

• Career Development Grant, 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition

• 2019 Graduate String Quartet in Residence, Juilliard School