Károly Schranz
After a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, founding second violinist of the Takács Quartet Károly Schranz retires from the Grammy-winning chamber ensemble effective May 1. University of Colorado Boulder Assistant Professor of Violin Harumi Rhodes has been appointed the new second violinist.
The other members of the quartet are Geraldine Walther, viola, Edward Dusinberre, first violin and András Fejér, cello.
With the other original members, Gábor Takács Nagy, Gábor Ormai and Fejér, Schranz came to Boulder in 1986 when the Takács Quartet became artists-in-residence at the CU College of Music. In the following decades, the quartet developed a prolific international career, giving concert tours in Europe, Asia, Australasia, South America, and in the major musical centers of the United States. At the same time, the quartet’s connection with CU Boulder and the local community deepened and the group expanded both its annual concert series and teaching activities in the region.
Schranz has received awards from the Hungarian Government of the Knight’s Cross and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. As a member of the Takács Quartet, he was awarded one Grammy and 4 nominations, several Gramophone Awards, plus other awards of excellence. In 2012, the ensemble became the first associate artists of the Wigmore Hall, receiving the Wigmore’s Gold Medal in 2014. Schranz plans to continue an active career as a chamber musician and teacher.
The members of the Takács Quartet are delighted to welcome Harumi Rhodes as their new second violinist.
“We are thrilled that Harumi has accepted our invitation to join the quartet,” members of the quartet said. “She is a wonderfully versatile violinist and chamber musician, and we greatly look forward to working with her.”
As colleagues at the University of Colorado, the members of the Takács have had many opportunities to play with Rhodes in different combinations. In the summer of 2016, she performed with the quartet at the Ravinia Festival and for Austin Chamber Music.
Rhodes has been at the College of Music since 2015. Before that, she served as head of strings and chamber music at Syracuse University and assistant violin faculty at Juilliard.
Rhodes joins the quartet for the second half of its Boulder concerts on April 29 & 30, performing Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence” with CU Boulder colleagues Erika Eckert and David Requiro.