Cincinnati’s 4-Way Quartet rebrands to reflect expanding educational mission

In 2015, cellist Nat Chaitkin – longtime member of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and Columbus’ ProMusica – founded a string quartet and gave the ensemble an appropriate Queen City moniker, the 4-Way Quartet. But the players have done more than perform at concerts; they provide individual and chamber music instruction to students in Title I schools that receive federal funding to support students from low-income families.

Now, according to Chaitkin, it’s time “to amplify our mission of empowering youth and enriching the Cincinnati community through chamber music” by adopting a new name that reflects this educational outreach – the Cincinnati String Project.

This coming school year, while continuing its work in Norwood Schools, Cincinnati String Project will expand into Winton Woods Schools, providing more than 50 students with free weekly private lessons and chamber music coaching.

Cincinnati String Project is also expanding its performance footprint this season, inaugurating a series at New City Presbyterian Church, and continuing as ensemble-in-residence at All Saints Episcopal Church. These first concerts of the season, entitled “New Beginnings,” will feature music of Beethoven, Astor Piazzolla, Paul Wiancko and arrangements by the Danish String Quartet:

• Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. – New City Presbyterian Church, 4400 Floral Ave., Norwood
• Sunday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. – All Saints Episcopal Church, 6301 Parkman Place, Pleasant Ridge. Catered reception to follow and child care provided for this performance.

Bringing new energy to the organization are two new members of the quartet: violinist Jacqueline Kitzmiller and violist Jenny Gaffney. They join returning violinist Maggie Niekamp and Chaitkin. Each of the members take on other responsibilities in the organization as well: Kitzmiller is director of operations, Niekamp is director of marketing and social media, Gaffney is director of education and Chaitkin is executive director.

Cincinnati String Project