Seattle Chamber Music Society is proud to announce the acclaimed Balourdet Quartet as its first-ever string quartet in residence, from September 2025 to May 2026. Praised for its vibrant energy and masterly blend of technical precision and emotional depth, the Balourdet Quartet will be embedded in King County, Wash., during its nine-month residency, with a multitude of engagements across the county, including special community events, educational initiatives, and formal concerts.

During the residency, SCMS and the Balourdet Quartet will launch community partnerships and travel to schools in King County to present outreach events. The group will present Azure Concerts — free and engaging performances tailored to children and young adults who are on the autism spectrum; mentor and coach students from the SCMS Academy for Chamber Music; and perform in the Living Room Concert Series, at the Crescendo Concert series in private homes, and as part of the SCMS Signature Series, alongside Artistic Director James Ehnes and other SCMS musicians. During the residency, the Balourdet Quartet members will live in housing provided by Skyline Seattle, the cosmopolitan retirement community in downtown Seattle.

The residency is sponsored by Heidi Charleson, a long-time and steadfast supporter of Seattle Chamber Music Society. The program is inspired by the taxpayer-funded program, Doors Open, a cultural access initiative by King County that aims to make the arts, science and heritage accessible for all residents. It is also made possible by housing support from Skyline Seattle.

For more information about the Balourdet Quartet, please visit balourdetquartet.com.

Stay tuned for 2025/2026 String Quartet in Residence performance schedule beginning September 2025!

Balourdet Quartet press release here ›