About
The Lark Quartet was a New York-based, all female string quartet that operated from 1985 to 2019. It is acknowledged for its distinguished contribution to the string quartet repertoire, commissioning new works from some of America's most celebrated composers. Most notably, Aaron Jay Kernis' two string quartets: Quartet no. 1 Musica celestis and Quartet no. 2 Musica instrumentalis, which received the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. The Lark Quartet served as Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2004 to 2008 and has recorded numerous albums on multiple labels including Decca/Argo, Arabesque, Bridge, ERI, Endeavor and Koch.
Members
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Kathryn Lockwood viola
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Astrid Schween cello
Discography
Albums
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Symphony in Waves / Musica celestis
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String Quartets nos. 1 & 2
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String Quartets
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String Quartets Op. 41 Nos. 1 and 3 (Lark)
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String Quartets nos. 2 & 3 / Piano Quintet
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Summer Shimmers / Zaka / Legacy / rapid ⬥ fire / Soliloquy / Autumn Reflection / Song / Dash
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Schickele on a Lark
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Composing America
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A Farewell Celebration Apple Music
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Musica instrumentalis / Musica celestis
Links
Official
Reference
Founder
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 46e79393-4e4b-4831-aad5-ab514e49b20f
- ISNI
- 0000000107402895
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 15 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.