lakes region
string quartet

Margaret Hopkins and Muriel Orcutt, violins
Sally Wituszynski, viola
Kari Jukka-Pekka (JP) Vainio, cello

The Lakes Region String Quartet was formed in early 2015, when the principal string players of the Lakes Region Symphony were asked to prepare a piece to perform for the spring concert program. At that time their cellist was Donna Denniston, but the other players have remained the same. They chose the Lyric Quartet by William Grant Still for their premiere performance. Later that summer they also performed it at Mark O’Connor’s American Music Camp in South Portland.

Since then they have played in many concerts and special events such as weddings, company events, memorial celebrations, and services. In 2019 they had the honor of performing string quartet music by Holocaust victims and survivors at the Etz Hayim Synagogue’s Yom HaShoah Service. Although the New Hampshire Lakes Region brought them together, the quartet members literally come from all over the world. They perform across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Kari Jukka-Pekka Vainio became their principal and quartet cellist in 2019. The Lakes Region String Quartet has an international flavor, as our members hail from Poland, France, the U.S., and Finland – which gives them the opportunity to share their cultures through music and food. They enjoy playing music in many different styles, but the classical string quartet literature holds a special place in their hearts.

RUN TIME: 45 minutes, no intermission