Free concerts are part of Tucson early music residency program

As part of the program, Quartet Novalis will perform four free concerts, three of them in Southern Arizona, between Sunday, July 19, and Saturday, July 25.

"We wanted to have a program that supported the artists," said Arizona Early Music's Executive Director Dominic Giardino. "It's a big new addition to what we do and we are happy to finally be able to offer concerts in the summertime."

Quartet Novalis — Eliana Estrada, Ela Kodžas, Annemarie Schubert and Luka Stefanović — was one of 15 ensembles that applied for this summer's program, which provides a $6,000 stipend, up to $3,200 in travel reimbursement and living expenses. The competitive application process was open to ensembles of two to six professional musicians between 18 and 35 years old who had been together at least six months.

Quartet Novalis, which has been together since 2024, was the Academy Quartet in residence at the Carmel Bach Festival in the summer of 2024 and has performed in the fringe concert series at both the Boston Early Music Festival and the Festival Oude Muziek in the Netherlands. 

This is the third year that Arizona Early Music has hosted a residency, which Giardino said is a big deal for the early music community nationwide. There are few, if any, professional development opportunities for emerging artists in the early music space, especially one that includes performance and rehearsal opportunities, a stipend, travel and living expenses and a professional mentorship.

"We surveyed the scene a few years ago and we didn't see anything like this," said Giardino, who is leaving Arizona Early Music later this month to become executive director of the New York City-based Gotham Early Music Scene. "We thought as a national presenting organization it's incumbent upon us to not only invest in the future, but to provide free concerts for the community."

The young ensemble will spend several days working with mentor Marc Destrubé, a Canadian violinist in the Axelrod String Quartet, an early music ensemble that is in residence at the Smithsonian Institution. He is also a member of the Turning Point Ensemble and is first violinist with the critically acclaimed Microcosmos string quartet, both in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This year's program is sponsored through a grant by Creative West's TourWest program that supports bringing national touring performers to the West.

The Montreal, Canada, string and brass ensemble Le Consort laurentien was the inaugural AEM Artist in Residence when the program launched in 2024. Baltimore's 18th-century cross-Baroque string band Magdalena Ensemble was in residence last year.

Free concerts

There is no admission charge to Quartet Novalis's concerts, but donations will be accepted.

• 3 p.m. Sunday at Paradise Valley's Christ Church of the Ascension, 4015 E. Lincoln Drive; co-presented with the church.
• 5 p.m. Monday at the Benderly–Kendall Opera House, 348 Naugle Ave. in Patagonia; co-presented with the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts.
• 7 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Wittner Museum, 204 N. Morley Ave. in Nogales, Arizona; co-produced with the museum.
• 3 p.m. Saturday, July 25, "Emerging Ensemble Residency Showcase Concert" at St. Philip’s in the Hills Music Center, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.; pay what you will at the door.

2026-27 season

Quartet Novalis's residency tees up Arizona Early Music's 2026-27 season that officially opens Nov. 7 with The Butter Quartet, an early Italian string ensemble.

• 2027 Tucson Baroque Music Festival Jan. 15-17 under director Avi Stein.
• Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer on Feb. 21 as part of the 2027 Tucson Desert Song Festival.
• Quadrant with mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte on March 14 as part of the 2027 song festival.
• Ensemble Constantinople April 4.

For tickets and more information, visit arizonaearlymusic.org.