Quartet San Francisco Earns Two Grammy Nominations in Classical Music Categories

WORCESTER, Mass. – Quartet San Francisco received two Grammy nominations for Látigo, their recording of tango and Latin arrangements, in the categories of Best Classical Crossover Album and Best Engineered Classical Album. Joel Cohen (cello), a founding member of the quartet, teaches in the music department at the College of the Holy Cross.

Released earlier this year, Látigo is the quartet’s second full-length album, following their 2002 self-titled debut recording. Látigo, Spanish for “whip,” refers to a performance technique used in tango — a quick slide or glissando of a left-hand finger on a stringed instrument for the purpose of simulating the sound of a whip.

Other quartet members include Jeremy Cohen (violin), Emily Onderdonk (viola), and Kayo Miki (violinist). Percussionist John Santos made contributions of rhythm and color to the Látigo sessions.

Founded in 2001, Quartet San Francisco focuses mainly on tango, but has regularly performed a wide range of material, including Beethoven, Brubeck, Mozart and Mingus.

Cohen received his bachelor’s of music from the University of Western Ontario. He has performed as co-principal cellist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, and as principal cellist in the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, as well as with the Vienna Radio Symphony (ORF/RSO) and as principal cellist with the Wiener Kammeroper (Vienna Chamber Opera). While living in Vienna he performed extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and regularly toured with the Johann Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna.

He has also performed in the Boston area with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Boston Virtuosi and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.

Cohen has been a member of the Holy Cross music department since 1997. He is also on the faculty at the Lexington Music School, in addition to maintaining a private studio. Since 2001 he has been involved with the New Directions Cello Festival, an annual event exploring non-classical cello styles through concerts and workshops. He also performs in the Boston area with Improvelocity, a group which explores musical collaboration through spontaneous chamber music, creating works in various styles including jazz, fusion, soundscapes and world music.