The Artesian Guitar Quartet was founded in 2010 and currently features guitarists James Erickson, Michael Roberts, Laura Lessard, and Harris Becker. The programs the quartet presents are highly innovative and eclectic. Although much of the music they perform was initially written for four guitars, the quartet also uses the rich and varied tones of the guitar to bring transcriptions of orchestral and piano music to life in an intimate concert setting. The programs can include works by Bach, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Rodrigo, and Faure, as well as arrangements of songs by the Beatles or traditional folk songs. The quartet is committed to exploring new works by contemporary composers as well. The group has premiered works by Alan Hirsh, Michael Roberts, John Meschi, and Vincent Muscarella.
The Artesian Guitar Quartet has performed at The Dickens Festival, The Art League of Long Island, The Rensselaerville Historical Society, the Babylon Arts Council, The Long Island Guitar Festival, The Suffolk County Community College Guitar Festival, The Steinberg Museum of Art, and at the Songe D’été en Musique festival in Quebec. Past performances also include a tour of Quebec with concerts for Quebec Rural University, Sainte-Agnès in Lac-Mégantic, and St. Vital in Lambton, Quebec.
The group has commissioned many new pieces for guitar quartet and often performs with guest artists. Recent programs have included collaborations with cellist Maureen Hynes, pianist Jeffrey Marcus, and percussionist Frank Cassara. Individually the members have played concerts and given master classes throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. As guitar instructors, they are or have been affiliated with Long Island University, Nassau Community College, Queens College, The Bronx House Music School, Suffolk County Community College, Usdan Center for the Performing Arts, Classical Guitar Corner Academy, and The Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich.
The quartet’s playing as an ensemble was exquisite. The music they chose spanned the centuries of music history and was thoroughly engaging and captivating. The audience was riveted to their every note throughout their performance." - Spotlight
