“Just a few seasons old, this young, vibrant group has made a Kronos-like commitment to a 20th century music all over the artistic map – from serialism, evocations of folk and pop music from around the world, American classics and European neo-romanticism, “ wrote music critic Gavin Borchert in the Seattle Weekly. Thus the mission of the acclaimed odeonquartet was noticed early on. Formed in 1999, odeonquartet (their preferred spelling) is comprised of distinguished artists who are dedicated to presenting concerts of the highest artistic quality and building new audiences for chamber music through performances and educational outreach programs.
The artists include Gennady Filimonov 1st violin, Artur Girsky 2nd violin, Heather Bentley viola and Walter Gray cello. The quartet was the Lehmann Ensemble-in-Residence at Cornish College of the Arts from 2001-2003, a residency made possible by a generous gift from Thelma Lehmann. The odeonquartet enjoys featuring works that reflect the diversity of American and International musical styles including fresh and imaginative performances of standard and lesser known masterpieces. Their musical journey often leads them to unusual repertoire, performing music that weaves in threads of tango, American prison blues, Persian folk music, Jazz, Minimalism & European Neo-Romanticism. Odeonquartet has premiered dozens of new works written for them. They also feel just as comfortable playing Mozart, Sibelius, Ravel and Shostakovitch among others. For the past few years the quartet has been at the forefront of groundbreaking events.
In April 2003, Gennady Filimonov of the odeonquartet created and produced, Playing the Game a panel discussion on composition for interactive video which received national attention. The event featured several top composers in the gaming industry: Alistair Hirst, Marty O'Donnell, Jeremy Soule, Ben Houge and Scott Selfon, all award-winning composers in the gaming industry. Topics for discussion included: linear music elements, non-linear elements (game play), compositional elements, programming elements, sound elements/sound design, and internet-based game play. Two time Emmy-Award winning Canadian film score composer Hummie Mann moderated the discussion.
Playing the Game was sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and was co-hosted by the Seattle Composer's Alliance and Cornish College of the Arts. Odeonquartet has also been instrumental in helping launch several prominent chamber music series including: Sound Currents, Simple Measures & the Pilchuck Chamber Music Series. They were the first classical string quartet “ever†to have appeared at Seattle’s own “Triple Door†(one of the hottest Jazz/Night Clubs around).
In 2006, odeonquartet opened the Earshot Jazz Festival along with Wayne Horovitz, Gravitas and Bill Frissel. The odeonquartet has been recipients of the prestigious King County Arts Commission Grant, and have been guests of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, PONCHO Concert Hall at Cornish College of the Arts, Belle Arte Chamber Music Series, Olympic Chamber Music Festival, the Lopez Center for the Arts in San Juan Islands and the Pilchuk Chamber Music Series. Other appearances include Benaroya Hall, KCTS/PBS, the Gala opening of Experience the Music Project, Seattle Chamber Music Festival with composer/narrator Bruce Adolph, Under Forte Series, KING FM, KSER KUOW/NPR as well as The Triple Door in Seattle with jazz favorites Wayne Horvitz and Robin Holcomb. The odeonquartet is dedicated to nurturing the human spirit by promoting and perpetuating greater understanding through music.
Since 2002 the odeonquartet has had an exclusive artist endorsement agreement with Connolly & Co., Inc on behalf of Thomastik-Infeld company (manufacturers of superior strings for the violin family). The Odeon String Quartet joins the roster of accomplished professionals which include the legendary Pinchas Zukerman, Ann-Sophie Mutter, Modern String Quartet, Turtle Island String Quartet, Chee Yun, American String Quartet, Hilary Hahn among others.