The Ironwood Quartet is made up of four dynamic and passionate Canadian musicians: Jessica Linnebach and Carissa Klopoushak (violins), David Marks (viola), and Julia MacLaine (cello), a quartet of curious musicians whose home base is Canada’s National Arts Centre. During the short years since their debut in 2014, Ironwood has become one of Canada’s premiere chamber music ensembles. Originally from Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver, and PEI, and with musical interests ranging from Beethoven and Ravel to Philip Glass, Ukrainian and American folk music, Tango and Radiohead, their programming reflects a belief in the power of great music to unite.
They first performed together in the inaugural NAC's WolfGANG Sessions at Ottawa’s Mercury Lounge (a series devoted to contemporary chamber music) and immediately felt the strength of their musical connection and their common passion for the tremendous and extensive repertoire for string quartet. Ironwood has achieved critical acclaim for their “take no prisoners” approach to performances and has appeared in Ottawa at the NAC’s Music for a Sunday Afternoon series, at the Steinway Gallery and at the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in Saskatoon, collaborating with pianists Jon Kimura Parker and Inon Barnatan.
This season has included a residency at Avaloch Music Farm Institute, performances of three Beethoven String Quartets at the NAC's Beethoven Festival, and a program of French and Canadian Music in Paris. Upcoming quartet concerts include a residency at Avaloch, and performances in Nova Scotia (Musique Royale), Prince Edward Island (Indian River Festival), in Winnipeg (GroundSwell), and in Quebec (Pontiac Enchanté).
Beginning July 2019, the quartet are directors of Classical Unbound in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
