The GAIA Quartet

GAIA Quartet is an intentionally all-women string quartet dedicated to commissioning and performing works by living composers. Founded in 2022 at the Longy School of Music of Bard College by Aspen Barker, Yi Charice Tang, Simone Cartales, and Rosalyn Taylor, GAIA Quartet was formed out of a shared passion for bringing contemporary music to modern audiences. In 2023 GAIA Quartet was named Graduate Chamber Fellows at Longy School of Music of Bard College and served as the Quartet-in-Residence with the Composition Department. This residency gave them the opportunity to work closely with composers, premiere new works, and develop collaborations that deepened their commitment to supporting living artists. While at Longy, they studied with Karla Donehew Perez of the Catalyst Quartet and Ralph Farris of ETHEL.

​

Despite the vast amount of innovative music being written today, much of it remains unheard by general audiences. This realization shaped GAIA Quartet’s mission: to make new music more accessible, engaging, and relevant to listeners beyond the classical music world. The quartet’s name reflects this mission. The name “GAIA” comes from the Greek goddess Gaia, the personification of Mother Earth. She is powerful yet often overlooked, much like the composer's GAIA Quartet champions. Gaia’s story resonated with the quartet as a symbol of resilience, transformation, and creation—values that define both their music-making and their dedication to contemporary composers. The name also represents the diversity within the group, honoring different backgrounds and artistic perspectives while embracing the strength to persist, evolve, and create.

​

In 2023, GAIA Quartet launched Sonority Unleashed, a concert series designed to reshape how audiences experience contemporary music. Their first program paired each piece with a different mocktail and appetizer, engaging listeners through taste. The second program incorporated a custom light show designed specifically for each piece, creating a visual representation of the music. These performances go beyond traditional concert formats, offering new ways for audiences to connect with modern works.

​

GAIA Quartet has collaborated with composers Christine Hedden, Patrick Wu, Salome Yichi Zhang, and Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), among others. They have also worked with ensembles such as INTERWOVEN, Aizuri Quartet, and the Horszowski Trio. GAIA Quartet was invited to attend the Ascent International Chamber Music Festival, where they studied with members of the Catalyst Quartet, Cavani Quartet, and Cleveland Quartet. In 2024, they were selected for the St. Lawrence Chamber Music Seminar, working with members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, Kronos Quartet, and Brentano Quartet.

​

Their debut album, In Time, is scheduled to come out in June 2025. Featuring music exclusively by living composers, the album explores different experiences of time—how we feel it, how we lose it, and how we hold onto it. In Time is designed to go beyond passive listening. We commissioned a writer to create a written work to accompany each piece, hoping that the text will provide a more accessible way for listeners to engage with and process the music.

​

GAIA Quartet continues to push for change in classical music. By commissioning new works, collaborating with composers, and rethinking how audiences engage with contemporary music, they are committed to making new music more accessible, meaningful, and relevant.