RENAISSANCE MEN: McCarter Theatre hosts the Renaissance Quartet, a group of Juilliard School graduates mentored by Itzhak Perlman, on Thursday, November 21. From left are Daniel Hass, Randall Goosby, Jeremiah Blacklow, and Jameel Martin.

The Renaissance Quartet, featuring violinists Randall Goosby and Jeremiah Blacklow, violist Jameel Martin, and cellist Daniel Hass, comes to McCarter Theatre on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Graduates  of the Juilliard School who were mentored by Itzhak Perlman, the quartet blends classical mastery with a reimagining of chamber music traditions. The New York-based ensemble takes a forward-thinking approach to appeal to a diverse audience.

The program opens with Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, a work that highlights the ensemble’s classical virtuosity. Next is Janácek’s Kreutzer Sonata, Quartet No. 1, followed by Love and Levity, an original piece by cellist Daniel Hass that blends classical and jazz influences. This varied selection reflects their commitment to exploring and expanding the classical music canon.

Grounded in more than a decade of friendship and musical collaboration, the members of the quartet share a vision that celebrates and reinterprets classical traditions, drawing from a diverse repertoire spanning Beethoven and Mozart to underrepresented and contemporary composers.

The Renaissance Quartet’s journey began in the intimate setting of the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where they established their accessible, community-focused approach to chamber music. Since then, they have performed in venues ranging from concert halls to community spaces and recently embarked on a 2023 tour in Jamaica, where they engaged with local schools and held a benefit recital for the Jamaican Red Cross and the Immaculate Conception High School Orchestra. Through their performances and outreach efforts, the Renaissance Quartet continues to inspire audiences, students, and collaborators to experience classical music in transformative ways.

Tickets start at $33. To purchase, visit mccarter.org or call (609) 258-2787.