New World String Quartet

The New World String Quartet was a classical music string quartet formed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, in 1975[1] and active through the early 1990s. Founding members were: Yosef Yankelev and William Patterson, violins; Yuri Vasilaki, viola; and Ross Harbaugh, cello.[2] These were also the members in a 1981 Minnesota Public Radio interview and performance.[3] As of 1983, members were: Curtis J. Macomber and William Patterson, violins; Robert Dan, viola; and Ross T. Harbaugh, cello.[4][5] These are also the members listed on the quartet's recording of Ben Johnston's String Quartet No. 6.[6][7] As of 1985, members were: Curtis Macomber and Vahn Armstrong, violins; Robert Dan, viola; and Ross Harbaugh, cello.[8] Members on recordings in the late 1980s and early 1990s included Curtis Macomber and Vahn Armstrong, violins; Benjamin Simon, viola; and Ross Harbaugh, cello. The quartet also recorded a Brahms piano quintet with Derek Han, piano.

The quartet won the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation Chamber Music award in 1979.[9] In 1980 the New World String Quartet became the first quartet-in-residence at Harvard University.[10][11] The quartet was awarded a Grand Prix du Disque in 1991 for their recording of the string quartets of Debussy, Ravel, and Henri Dutilleux.