The Vail Series presents Attacca Quartet

The two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Attacca Quartet is recognized and acclaimed as one of the most versatile and outstanding ensembles of the moment — a true quartet for modern times. Gliding through traditional classical repertoire to electronica, video game music, and contemporary collaborations, they are one of the world’s most innovative and respected ensembles. 

In 2021, the quartet released two albums that embody their redefinition of what a string quartet can be. The first Album, “Real Life,” featuring guest artists such as TokiMONSTA, Daedalus, and Anne Müller, was followed up by “Of all Joys,” which features works by Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, and music of the Renaissance period. Passionate advocates of contemporary repertoire, the quartet is dedicated to presenting and recording new works. Their 2019 release Orange, in collaboration with Caroline Shaw, saw them win the 2020 GRAMMY® Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, with their follow-up album, “Evergreen,” winning the 2023 award in the same category. The quartet continues to perform in the world’s best venues and festivals. 

In addition to the quartet’s traditional concert stage work, they were the first to collaborate with Billie Eilish and FINNEAS on their recent album and also performed with the duo on Saturday Night Live. As featured artists, the Attacca Quartet can be heard on the soundtrack of the upcoming Ken Burns Documentary, “Leonardo da Vinci” (soundtrack by Caroline Shaw) and the soundtrack for the film, “We Grown Now” (directed by Minhal Baig and soundtrack by Jay Wadley). 

The founding members of the Attacca Quartet met while all studying at the Juilliard School in the early 2000s and they made their professional debut at Carnegie Hall in 2003 and has engaged in extensive educational and community engagement projects, serving as guest artists and teaching fellows. They are expert programmers and communicators, and beautifully mix existing works with those by living composers. Their concert is also the culminating concert of the Denison University TUTTI 2026 New Arts Festival. 

Visit attaccaquartet.com for more information.

DENISON COMMUNITY TICKETS 

Tickets are free for Denison students, faculty, and staff. 

PUBLIC TICKETS 

We share these experiences with our larger community by making a limited number of tickets available for public sale on a first come, first served basis at $20 each. A limited number of Vail Season Passes are also available for all four concerts for $68 through October 23. 

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The Vail Series was endowed in 1979 by a generous gift from the late Mary and Foster McGaw in honor of Jeanne Vail, class of 1946. Just as it was intended to do, the Series enriches the artistic experience of the entire Denison community. Programmed creatively with the mindful pursuit of learning across traditional academic boundaries, more than 100 individual Vail Series artists have found their way to Denison’s classrooms and stages, but that doesn’t include the dozens of ensembles or full symphony orchestras that have played here over the years.