SUMMER GALA CONCERT
in support of the National String Quartet Foundation
AULA MAXIMA, UCC
Saturday 13th June 2026 at 7.30
INTRODUCED BY EVELYN GRANT
Presented by Cork Orchestral Society with the support of University College, Cork
A special evening of musical treats featuring 30 of Cork’s finest, and also marking 40 years since the Vanbrugh Quartet arrived in Cork in 1986.
Vanbrugh & Friends will start the night with the electrifying opening of Mendelssohn’s B flat major quintet. The Olympia Quartet will perform two movements from Janáček’s passionate masterpiece Intimate Letters, and the Ora Quartet, joined by cellist Christopher Marwood, will play the memorable slow movement from Schubert’s great cello quintet. The first half of the concert ends with two new creations by the Yershovy Sisters, an arrangement of Dvořák’s lovely Dumka from his piano quintet and a Moldovan-flavoured treat. The Solas Quartet brings sparkling music by Venetian virtuoso Maddalena Lombardini along with some of their ever popular folk arrangements, and the Meliora Quartet presents more by the teenage genuius, Mendelssohn, from his beautiful E flat major quartet. To close the evening, Katherine Hunka leads Rebel Strings in three contrasting gems by Mozart, Florence Price and Vladimir Martynov
Tickets now on sale, including a limited number of premium seats in the front section of the Aula Maxima.
The National String Quartet Foundation is Chamber Music Partner to UCC
Evelyn Grant
VANBRUGH & FRIENDS
Katherine Hunka, violin
Marja Gaynor, violin
Simon Aspell, viola
Cian Ó Dúill, viola
Christopher Marwood, cello
Felix Mendelssohn - String Quintet No.2 in B flat major
i. Allegro vivace
Vanbrugh & Friends
OLYMPIA QUARTET
Yevlaliia Yershova, violin
Ellen Crowley, violin
Charlie Duff, viola
Adam Joyce, cello
Leoš Janáček - String Quartet No.2 Intimate Letters
i. Andante - Con moto - Allegro
iv. Allegro - Andante - Adagio
Olympia Quartet - as seen on the Tommy Tiernan Show!
ORA QUARTET
Siun Milne, violin
Molly O'Shea, violin
Ali Comerford, viola
Yseult Cooper Stockdale, cello
with Christopher Marwood, cello
Franz Schubert - String Quintet in C major
ii. Adagio
Ora Quartet
THE YERSHOVY SISTERS
Kseniia Yershova, violin/viola
Yevlaliia Yershova, violin
Olena Yershova, violin
Nataliia Yershova, violin
Sofiia Yershova, cello
Antonín Dvořák - Dumka from Piano Quintet in A major, op. 81 (arr. Kseniia Yershova)
Levko Kolodub - Sketch in Moldovan style (arr. Kseniia Yershova) - featuring a special guest!
Yershovy Sisters
SOLAS QUARTET
Katherine Hunka, violin
Marja Gaynor, violin
Cian Ó Dúill, viola
Aoife Nic Athlaoich
Maddalena Lombardini - String Quartet No.2 in B flat
A selection of trad tunes from Ireland, England and Scandinavia in arrangements by Marja Gaynor and the Danish String Quartet
Solas Quartet - as seen on the Tommy Tiernan Show
MELIORA QUARTET
Seán Hurley, violin
Cillian Ó Cathasaigh, violin
Kseniia Yershova, viola
Alina Obreja, cello
Felix Mendelssohn - String Quartet in E flat major Op.12
iii. Andante espressivo
iv. Molto allegro e vivace
Meliora Quartet
REBEL STRINGS!
DIRECTED BY KATHERINE HUNKA
Katherine Hunka, violin
Cillian O Cathasaigh, violin
Ellen Crowley, violin
Claire O’Sullivan, violin
Brefní Burke, violin
Seán Hurley, violin
Yevlaliia Yershova, violin
Isabelle Kearney, violin
Meadhbh Ní Chathasaigh, violin
Anna Quinn, violin
Kseniia Yershova, viola
Charlie Duff, viola
Ilona Adams, viola
Miriam Quinn, viola
Alina Obreja, cello
Clara Kamlah, cello
Aoife Nic Athlaoich, cello
David Whitla, double bass
Mozart - Divertimento in D major K.136 i. Allegro
Florence Price - Juba
Vladimir Martynov - Come in! Last movement
Rebel Strings 2025
The National String Quartet Foundation is supported by the Arts Council and RTE Lyric FM
