After more than five decades of performing together, the internationally acclaimed American String Quartet will make its final area appearance on Sunday, October 4 at 4 p.m., when it opens the 76th season of the Westchester Chamber Music Society (WCMS) at Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester in Rye.
The performance marks a significant moment for both the ensemble and Westchester audiences. Known for its distinctive sound, exceptional artistry, and long-standing commitment to the string-quartet repertoire, the American String Quartet has performed in leading concert halls around the world and earned critical acclaim for complete cycles of the quartets of Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, and Bartók.
The Quartet’s complete Mozart String Quartet performances, played on a matched set of Stradivarius instruments, have been particularly celebrated.
For local audiences, the October 4 concert offers a rare opportunity to hear the ensemble in the intimate setting of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, known for its excellent acoustics. It will also be the American String Quartet’s final concert in the Westchester area.
The afternoon’s program brings together three major works of the string-quartet repertoire:
- Beethoven: String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6
- Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
- Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810, “Death and the Maiden”
Following the performance, audience members are invited to join the musicians for a wine and cheese reception, providing an opportunity to meet the artists and continue the afternoon’s celebration of chamber music.
Concert Information
American String Quartet
Sunday, October 4, 2026 • 4 p.m.
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester
2125 Westchester Avenue
Rye, New York
Tickets:
First-time attendees: $30
General admission: $50 online / $60 at the door
Remote viewing via livestream: $30
Students and children: Free
Tickets and additional information are available at westchesterchambermusic.org.
