Maine’s DaPonte String Quartet Announce New Violinist 

Violinist and violist Philipp Elssner will join the quartet as of June 2024

Founded in Philadelphia and moving to Maine over 30 years ago, the DaPonte String Quartet (DSQ) currently comprises violinists Lydia Forbes and Ferdinand “Dino” Liva, violist Kirsten Monke, and cellist Myles Jordan. 

After searching for a new violinist since January 2023, the DSQ has welcomed the 24-year-old violinist Philipp Elssner to the position. He will succeed Liva, who will step back from the position due to medical reasons.

To begin his tenure in June 2024, Elssner was appointed after two rehearsals in late February 2024; he accepted the position offer in March.

As an undergraduate, Elssner studied violin and music theory at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Jaime Laredo and Jan Sloman. He recently completed his master’s degree in music theory at Montreal’s McGill University, where he studied violin with Jinjoo Cho. 

Additionally, Elssner was the 2017 winner of the String Teachers Association Competition and was a finalist at the North Carolina Symphony Concerto Competition. He is also a member of the Lake Trio.

Elssner will join the DSQ in time to participate in this year’s String Quartet Institute and will play his first concerts with the group in July 2024. 

“I was inspired to join the DSQ because of their long history of musical excellence, and their close connection with the community of coastal Maine,” Elssner said in the press release. “I’ve always wanted to delve deeply into the vast repertoire of string quartets, and to be able to do so in my home state with such a renowned group is an amazing opportunity! 

“In bringing my own voice and perspectives to the group, I hope we can forge a unique and compelling quartet sound that does justice to the wonderful pieces of music we play,” he added. “I’ve long wanted to bring more high-level classical music to my community in Midcoast Maine, and I’m excited to now be able to do so as a member of the DSQ.”