Two amazing new young lions onboard and champing at the bit, a stalwart violist to weather the storm, and a grammy nomination in the composition category for the senior turtle, 2016 is shaping up to be a year of change, affirmation and renewal for the quartet. Exhilarating, terrifying, soul searching, frustrating at times, keeping our hearts open, awareness of the full range of possibilities both up and down and sideways, and a willingness to welcome it all; are we up to it?!? Is there a choice? ... Read More

The 2015 GRAMMY® nominations were announced on December 7, and Turtle Island Quartet founding member, violinist, and composer-in-residence David Balakrishnan was nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category for his two-movement work “Confetti Man,” the title track from Turtle Island Quartet’s 2014 release from Azica Records. Balakrishnan: “I was thrilled to wake up this morning to find a GRAMMY® nomination for ‘Confetti Man’ in my inbox.  Turtle Island Quartet has been on an ... Read More

Turtle Island Quartet's recording of "Alex in A Major" will be on tomorrow's episode of Performance Today! Check to see if your local station carries PT, or click here tomorrow to listen in: http://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today and it will also air on the radio on all the stations that carry the program (list of participating stations here: http://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today/stations/list ... Read More

Cellist Malcolm Parson, currently of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and violinist Alex Hargreaves, arguably the brightest shining star among the current crop of young lions of the jazz violin scene in America, will join the group in January 2016 upon the departure of original cellist Mark Summer and violinist Mateusz Smoczyński. TIQ founder David Balakrishnan: "Every group, particularly one that has been together for 30 years, reaches transition points along their journey. We are so happy for ... Read More

  "It is my pleasure to inform you that the Turtle Island Quartet has been chosen as the recipient of the 2015 NFMC Centennial Chamber Music Award.  Your recording entitled "Confetti Man" was exemplary, and its compositional originality, variety, innovative approach to chamber music, and wide audience appeal sets a high standard of excellence for the performance of American Chamber Music.” -Dr Zuill Bailey, Sr. NFMC Centennial Chamber Music Chairman ... Read More

Turtle Island Quartet nomination for our recording with Mike Marshall, didn't get the trophy this time shucks! But fun was had by all. ... Read More

Turtles are gearing up for our CD release, Confetti Man on October 28th! Here's our performance video of "Cool Jazz" composition, Israel. Israel from Confetti Man - Turtle Island Quartet from Turtle Island Quartet on Vimeo. ... Read More

Turtle Island Quartet is performing in Germany this month and featured on the cover of APERO! ... Read More