The Copeland String Quartet

Violinists Eliezer Gutman and Thomas Jackson, violist Nina Cottman, and cellist Mark Ward, all veteran performers with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the Kennett Symphony of Chester County, and other regional orchestras, formed the quartet in 2003. The dazzling and vast repertoire for a small ensemble inspired them to come together to make music in the intimate format of the string quartet. The quartet chose its name as a way to thank Mrs. Copeland for her enthusiastic support of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. In a moment of pure serendipity, the quartet was asked to play a concert at the Church of the Holy City in Wilmington, Delaware to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Following that concert, the church, with its heavenly acoustics for chamber music, became home for a series of free concerts made possible by the sponsorship of Tatiana Copeland, an avid advocate and patron of the arts.

The quartet is delighted to have enjoyed the sponsored series of concerts at the Church of the Holy City now in its fifth season. It has been a special pleasure for the musicians to play in such a special venue and watch the church fill up with loyal and enthusiastic concertgoers.

In addition to the Church of the Holy City concerts, the quartet has performed at tri-state venues, including the Concerts by Candlelight Series at Laurel Hill Mansion in Philadelphia, PA; Allentown Symphony Hall, Allentown, PA; the Tea and Symphony Series at Highlands Mansion and Garden, Fort Washington, PA; Chamber Music Series of Greater Johnstown, Johnstown, PA; Greenville Country Club, Wilmington, PA; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, as part of the Bach Festival of Philadelphia; the Champagne Chamber Series of the Delaware Symphony at the Hotel DuPont, Wilmington, DE; the Smyrna Opera House, Smyrna, DE; Schwartz Center, Dover, DE; and the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum, Lake George, NY.

The quartet has been invited to perform at Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA; Wesley College, Dover, DE; Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA; Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD; and Valley Forge Christian Academy. They have played at these area libraries: the Gloucester County Library, Mullica Hill, NJ; the Fans of Brandywine Public Library, Wilmington, DE; and the Newark Free Library, Newark, DE. CSQ participated in the educational outreach programming for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and is now active in arts education and outreach programming for the Kennett Symphony of Chester County.

CSQ has been invited to play at many area churches, including St. Michaels Lutheran Church, Unionville, PA, Trinity Episcopal Church, Wilmington, DE; the Community Concert Series at Trinity Lutheran Church, Perkasie, PA; the Hadley Memorial Fund at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE; and Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Pottstown, PA.

The quartet has played at fundraising and community events, including First Night, the Kalmar Nickel Foundation, Meals on Wheels, the Delaware Music School, Christiana Care Hospital, all in Wilmington, DE, as well as Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover, DE, and St. Johns Lutheran Church, Ambler, PA.