Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as "invariably energetic and finely burnished… playing with earthy vigor," the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble (Karla Donehew Perez, violin; Abi Fayette, violin; Paul Laraia, viola; and Karlos Rodriguez, cello) believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine their programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience.

The Catalyst Quartet, known for "perfect ensemble unity" and "unequaled class of execution" (Lincoln Journal Star), has toured widely throughout the United States and abroad, including sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., at Chicago's Harris Theater, Miami's New World Center, and Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York. The quartet has been guest soloists with the Cincinnati Symphony, New Haven Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, and has served as principal players and featured ensemble with the Sphinx Organization's featured ensemble, the Sphinx Virtuosi, on six national tours. They have been invited to perform at important music festivals such as Mainly Mozart in San Diego, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Sitka Music Festival, Juneau Jazz and Classics, Strings Music Festival, and the Grand Canyon Music Festival, where they appear annually. The Catalyst Quartet was ensemble-in-residence at the Vail Dance Festival in 2016 and in the 2021-22 season were in residence with San Francisco Performances where they presented the complete series of works from their Uncovered Project. In 2022, the Catalyst Quartet was named ensemble in residence for the Chamber Music Northwest Festival in Portland and for the Met Museum's LiveArts series in NYC.

The Catalyst Quartet members hold degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School, and New England Conservatory.

Catalyst Quartet: UNCOVERED

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (EST)
Dana Fine Arts Building, Winter Theater, Decatur, GA, United States

Get ready for an unforgettable evening with the Catalyst Quartet at Agnes Scott College! The Catalyst Quartet, known for "perfect ensemble …

Free (registration required)

Catalyst Quartet: Master Class

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 1:00pm – 2:30pm (EST)

The Kirk Artist in Residency program at Agnes Scott College kicks off with our guest musicians, the Catalyst Quartet giving two chamber and…

Free

Catalyst Quartet: Master Class

Monday, February 3, 2025 @ 2:00pm – 3:30pm (EST)

The Kirk Artist in Residency program at Agnes Scott College kicks off with our guest musicians, the Catalyst Quartet giving two chamber and…

Free

92NY presents Catalyst Quartet: Intersections

Friday, November 22, 2024 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (EST)
Buttenwieser Hall at 92NY, New York, NY, United States
Online and in-person

$40-$55 (discounts available for Friends of 92Y, Himan Brown Program) |
Stream: $25

Catalyst String Quartet at Agnes Scott

Friday, February 2, 2024 @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (EST)

The Catalyst Quartet, known for "perfect ensemble unity" and "unequaled class of execution" (Lincoln Journal Star), has toured widely throu…

Free

Catalyst Quartet: ¡Viva la Música!

Thursday, November 30, 2023 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (PST)
The Old Church Concert Hall, Portland, OR, United States

$35-$67.50 ($20 ages 18-29, $10 ages 17 & under)

CMNW: David Ludwig's 'The Anchoress'

Monday, July 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm – 10:00pm (PDT)
Kaul Auditorium at Reed College, Portland, OR, United States

$32.50-$67.50 ($20 ages 18-29, $10 ages 17 & under)

CMNW: David Ludwig's 'The Anchoress'

Sunday, July 16, 2023 @ 4:00pm – 6:00pm (PDT)

$32.50-$67.50 ($20 ages 18-29, $10 ages 17 & under)

CMNW Open Rehearsal: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's clarinet quintet

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 @ 11:00am – 1:00pm (PDT)
Kaul Auditorium at Reed College, Portland, OR, United States

Go behind the scenes and observe CMNW's world-class musicians working together to put the finishing touches on the music for upcoming perfo…

Free

Music Mondays: Catalyst Quartet & Karen Slack

Monday, April 24, 2023 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (EDT)
Advent Lutheran Church, New York, NY, United States

Free (RSVP available but not required)