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PRESENTED BY MARTHA WUNSCH & KENT NAKAMOTO

     A Grammy-winning string quartet with a new attitude toward classical music, Harlem Quartet brings its bold, genre-crossing artistry to Chamber Music Raleigh’s Sights & Sounds on Sundays series at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Praised by The New York Times for its “panache” and by the Cincinnati Enquirer for bringing “a new attitude to classical music,” the quartet is known for performances that are polished, adventurous, and alive with discovery.

     Founded in 2006 by the Sphinx Organization, Harlem Quartet was created to expand access to classical music and help build new audiences. Its name honors the Harlem Renaissance, one of the great cultural movements in American history, and the ensemble’s mission continues that spirit through performances, education, and programming that connects classical tradition with jazz, Latin music, contemporary works, and composers from underrepresented backgrounds. 

PRESENTED BY:

Ilmar Gavilán – violin
Melissa White – violin
Jaime Amador – viola
Felix Umansky – cello

GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS

The quartet features violinists Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White, violist Jaime Amador, and cellist Felix Umansky. Together, they have performed in 48 states and on four continents, appeared on national television, performed at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama, and collaborated with artists including Imani Winds, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Paquito D’Rivera, Stanley Clarke, Awadagin Pratt, Anthony McGill, and John Patitucci. 
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Sunday, February 21, 2027
2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
SECU Auditorium - NC Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Rd. Raleigh, NC 27607



$31 ADULTS
$28 NCMA  MEMBERS
​$23 STUDENTS

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     Recent acclaim has only deepened their national profile. Harlem Quartet won a 2024 Grammy Award as part of Passion for Bach and Coltrane with Imani Winds, and their 2024 album Havana Meets Harlem received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album.

     For this NCMA performance, expect a concert that moves with energy, elegance, and purpose—string quartet playing that honors the classical canon while opening the door to the wider world of American, Latin, jazz, and contemporary musical voices.
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THE HARLEM QUARTET