: Contemporary/Jazz String Quartet
The Heritage String Quartette is a new musical group in the DFW metroplex .
Composed of four young area string musicians, we perform a unique style of music arranged by maestro Roger Boykin. A string quartet typically consist of two violinist, a violist, and a cellist. This form of music has been used by famous composers like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and others. Our quartet's works are short, melodic, and harmonic following American song form rather than traditional structures.
We offer outside performances (weather permitting) for those taking precautions for the pandemic.
During the Covid 19 Pandemic, starting in March 2020, Roger Boykin, a jazz musician, began writing string quartets because he couldn’t perform in-person gigs. From March 2020 to June 2023, he composed 50 string quartets. The Heritage String Quartette performed 12 of the compositions at a debut concert held at the Sammons Center for the Arts in June 2023.
In the winter of 2022, Boykin wanted to organize a quartet to perform some of his compositions in concerts. He called his former student, Maria Demus an accomplished violinist, to see if she would be interested in helping him find some other talented strings players interested in forming a string quartet. She gave it some serious thought, and because she was aware of the lack of opportunities for string players of color to play in symphony orchestras and string ensembles, she decided to help organize a group. As a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts, she recruited some of her friends who had played in that school’s orchestra as well as in Young Strings, a program of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
In the Spring of 2023, Roger Boykin, Maria Demus, and former cellist, Jennifer Manzay formed The Heritage String Quartette, changing the spelling of quartet to set it apart from traditional string quartets.
The Heritage String Quartette plans to perform in concert on stages throughout Texas at shcools, recreations centers, museums, and other venues, and is eagerly seeking such opportunities for private and public events, weddings and recording sessions for TV and film licensing.
 | |
| OAC | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy The Office of Arts and Culture is a division of the City of Dallas City Manager's Office. | |
