Contact the Portland String Quartet through their website.
Dean Stein, Violin I
Ronald Lantz, Violin II
Julia Adams, Viola
Patrick Owen, Cello
“The Portland String Quartet performed brilliantly, arguing the composer’s case with passion and precision. One couldn’t have asked for more persuasive, more unified and more yearningly lyrical playing.” — The New York Times
Coming together from musical training at Curtis, Eastman, Indiana, Juilliard and Oberlin, the PSQ has played an important role in the artistic renaissance of the City of Portland and the State of Maine, championing Maine and American composers both nationally and internationally. Brought together in 1969 by conductor Paul Vermel, they became principal players in the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Quartet was formed. In 1980 they became Artists in Residence for the University of Southern Maine and in 1986 Colby College proclaimed the PSQ “Maine Treasures,” awarding them Honorary Doctor of Music degrees. Beginning with the Fall semester of that year they became Artists in Residence for Colby College.
Their ensemble was studied in 1981 by the Harvard Business School as a small business teamwork model. Working with the Harvard Business School, the Business School at California’s Polytechnic Institute in Pomona, Bentley College, Bucknell University and the Business School at La Salle University in Philadelphia, the Portland String Quartet has pioneered in the exploration of group dynamics. Teaching videos of their finely honed ensemble have become tools for business schools internationally.