Cypress String Quartet

Cecily Ward, violin Tom Stone, violin Ethan Filner, viola Jennifer Kloetzel, cello

Widely celebrated for the power of its performances and its passionate dedication to the genre, the Cypress String Quartet combines technical precision with imaginative programming to create unforgettable concert experiences.

On top of a busy schedule of over 90 concerts each year at venues across America and internationally, including the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Stanford Lively Arts, Krannert Center and Ravinia Festival, the Cypress String Quartet is a vibrant member of the San Francisco arts community.

The members of the Cypress Quartet play on exceptional instruments, including violins by Antonio Stradivarius (1681) and Carlos Bergonzi (1733), a viola by Vittorio Bellarosa (1947) and a cello by Hieronymus Amati II (1701). The Cypress Quartet takes its name from the set of twelve love songs for string quartet, "The Cypresses", by Antonin Dvorak.

Nancy Ellis, viola

Nancy Ellis received her training at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin College and Mills College, where she studied with Nathan Rubin. Ms. Ellis has been a member of the San Francisco Symphony since 1975, and has also performed with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and as a chamber music player with Music from Marlboro, as well as part of a quartet in support of rock singer Van Morrison.

David McCarroll, violin

David McCarroll, described as “a great talent” who plays “with an impressive depth of feeling,” by the IndieLONDON, grew up on his family’s Sonoma County farm, attended the Crowden School in Berkeley and the Yehudi Menuhin School outside London at the age of 13. He went on to study with Donald Weilerstein and Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory where he received the Presser Foundation Scholarship Award and Gunther Schuller Award. He has received prizes at the Klein International Competition (USA-2007), Windsor Festival Competition (UK-2008)and Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand-2009) and has already concertized as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the British Isles and in Switzerland, Tunisia, Thailand, New Zealand, Panama and El Salvador. In the United States, he has appeared in the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Merkin Hall in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston and with several orchestras in California, including the Marin and Santa Rosa Symphonies. He plays a 1761 violin made by A. and J. Gagliano.

Axel Strauss, violin

In 1998, violinist Axel Strauss became the first German artist ever to win the Naumburg Violin Award, and in the seasons since, he has been equally acclaimed for his virtuosity and his musical sensitivity. Mr. Strauss maintains a busy performance schedule and serves as Professor of Violin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He made his American debut at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and his New York debut at Alice Tully Hall in the fall of 1998, and continued a season with recitals in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Savannah, and West Palm Beach which culminated in a performance in New York’s Central Park with the New York Chamber Symphony, conducted by Robert Mann. His other concerto appearances have included performances with the Grand Rapids, Santa Fe, Des Moines, North Carolina, and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestras, and the Naples Philharmonic. Highlights of the 2000-2001 season included recitals at New York’s Alice Tully Hall, the Cleveland Museum, and the La Jolla Chamber Music Society, as well as a tour of Germany with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and performances with the Budapest Philharmonic in Hungary. Axel Strauss performs on an outstanding violin by J.F. Pressenda, Turin 1845, on extended loan through the generous efforts of the Stradivari Society in Chicago.

Roy Bogas, piano

A student of Ada Clement, Adolph Baller, Hedwig Rosenthal and Rosina Lhevinne, Roy Bogas received his training in chamber music with the Griller Quartet and the Alma Trio. At the age of 19 he became accompanist to Yehudi Menuhin, playing over a hundred concerts with him throughout North and South America. He has also played with many other artists including Zara Nelsova, Ruggiero Ricci, Michael Rabin, Jaime Laredo and Joseph Szigeti, with whom he recorded a number of 20th century works for Mercury Records.

In 1962 he was a prizewinner at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, making his New York and London debuts the following year. In addition to recital work, he has performed as soloist with virtually every orchestra in California as well as many other orchestras in this country and abroad. He is also principal solo pianist for San Francisco Ballet and Diablo Ballet. Currently a member of the music faculty at Holy Names College, he is very active as a chamber music performer, having appeared on the San Francisco Symphony Chamber Music Series at Davies Hall, as well as with the Sierra Chamber Series, the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento, Chamber Music Sundaes and the new Masterguild Series at Holy Names College.

Amy Hiraga, violin

Violinist Amy Hiraga was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1991 until 1999. She is currently a permanent member of the San Francisco Symphony. Ms. Hiraga has performed and recorded with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the New York Chamber Orchestra and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. She has appeared as soloist with the Seattle Symphony, the Aspen Philharmonia, Solisti New York, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra and the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble. In addition, she has performed chamber music at the Caramoor, Bard, Olympic, Chamber Music West, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festivals, as well as with the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, Chelsea Ensemble and the Partita Chamber Ensemble. Her teachers include Emanuel Zeitlin in Seattle, and Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School. Amy Hiraga lives in Mill Valley, California with her husband, Peter Wyrick, and their two daughters, Mayumi and Mariko.

Peter Wyrick, cello

Peter Wyrick is the Associate Principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony. He has performed as chamber musician and soloist with renowned chamber groups and orchestras throughout the world. Mr. Wyrick was a member of the acclaimed Ridge String Quartet whose recording of the Dvorak Piano Quintets with pianist Rudolf Firkusny on the RCA label won the French Diapason d'Or and was nominated for the 1993 Grammy Award for the Best Chamber Music Performance. He has participated in Finland's Helsinki Festival, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., and Spoleto, Italy, as well as the Vancouver, Bard, Chamber Music West, La Jolla and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festivals.

He has performed as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, the Aspen Chamber Symphony, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Queens Philharmonic, the American and the Oklahoma City Chamber Orchestras, and the Kozponti Sinfonicus in Budapest, Hungary. was the Principal cellist of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center and the Associate Principal of the New York City Opera Orchestra. His recordings include the cello sonatas of Gabriel Fauré with pianist Earl Wild for dell'Arte records, as well as performances for Stereophile and Arabesque records. Mr. Wyrick was one of the last students of Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School, and plays on a David Tecchler cello made in Rome circa 1724.