Classical Unbound & Ironwood Quartet, united!

Dear music lovers,

You may have noticed the recent dry-spell in communications from Classical Unbound Festival.  
Now we can finally tell you what's been going on... 

a lighthearted flirtation quickly led to earnest courting and finally an exchange of vows: 

It is with great joy that we announce the union of Classical Unbound Festival with Ironwood String Quartet!  

Perhaps this was meant to be.  The festival and quartet were born around the same time, and out of the same desire: to unbind so-called 'classical' music from its formal attire and bind it more closely to our hearts and souls.  

With Jessica Linnebach as co-founder of both festival and quartet it was inevitable the two would cross paths.  Ironwood's concerts at CUF in 2017 made our common direction clear; now as its new artistic directors, we're excited to be taking the next steps with CUF.  It's still the same festival, just paired with a new dance partner.  

We'll be keeping you posted about what you can expect this summer, and look forward to seeing you then!

Ironwood Quartet is made up of four dynamic and passionate Canadian musicians: Jessica Linnebach and Carissa Klopoushak (violins), David Marks (viola), and Julia MacLaine (cello), a quartet of curious musicians whose home base is Canada’s National Arts Centre.  During the short years since their debut in 2014, Ironwood has become one of Canada’s premiere chamber music ensembles.  Originally from Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver and PEI and with musical interests ranging from Beethoven and Ravel to Phillip Glass, Ukrainian and American folk music, Tango and Radiohead, their programming reflects a belief in the power of great music to unite.  They first performed together in the inaugural NAC's WolfGANG Sessions at Ottawa’s Mercury Lounge (a series devoted to contemporary chamber music) and immediately felt the strength of their musical connection and their common passion for the tremendous and extensive repertoire for string quartet.  Ironwood has achieved critical acclaim for their “take no prisoners” approach to performances and has appeared in Ottawa at the NAC’s Music for a Sunday Afternoon series, at the Steinway Gallery and at the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in Saskatoon, collaborating with pianists Jon Kimura Parker, Angela Hewitt, and Inon Barnatan.  This season has included a residency at Avaloch Music Farm Institute, and performances of three Beethoven String Quartets at the NAC's Beethoven Festival.  Upcoming quartet concerts are on tour with the NAC Orchestra in Europe, at festivals on Prince Edward Island, in Winnipeg (GroundSwell), and in Quebec (Pontiac Enchanté).