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Musically omnivorous, prolific, and passionate, "America's favorite string band" incorporates rock, blues, classical, jazz and other popular genres to create a sound that defies categorization. Formed in 1998, ETHEL is comprised of four world-class, Juilliard-trained composer/musicians: Cornelius Dufallo (violin), Ralph Farris (viola), Dorothy Lawson (cello), and Mary Rowell (violin). Described as "the fiercest string quartet this side of hell," and "the most bad-ass quartet around," ETHEL has performed over 300 shows in ten different countries as a favorite at countless festivals and venues around the globe.
ETHEL celebrates its 10th anniversary season with the launch of its 2008 TruckStop™ odyssey. In an effort to explore and honor indigenous communities, cultures, and music, ETHEL explores the world's musical melting pot in a 10-city, 10-month long TruckStop™ residency/concert tour beginning and ending in its hometown of New York City. Other season highlights include the 2nd Annual IN THE HOUSE OF ETHEL: SOLSTICE, a multimedia, site-specific concert at NYC's Winter Garden and the 2nd Annual ETHEL FAIR, an evening at New York's Symphony Space in honor of ETHEL's decade of commissioned works, composers, and collaborations featuring special guest artists. The group performs self-composed works as well as works by notable contemporary composers and has at one time shared the stage with pop/rock icons Todd Rundgren and Joe Jackson and has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Members of ETHEL have recorded/performed with some of today's most compelling artists: Sheryl Crow, Gorillaz, Roger Daltrey, Yo Yo Ma, Ornette Coleman, Lenny Kravitz, Jill Sobule, Thomas Dolby, and Gutbucket.
A DECADE OF MILESTONES
- 1998 ETHEL is formed by Ralph Farris (viola), Dorothy Lawson (cello), Todd Reynolds (violin) and Mary Rowell (violin)
- 2000 ETHEL performs as part of the Bang on a Can Marathon at the Schleswig- Holstein Festival, Hamburg Germany
- 2001 ETHEL performs as part of the Bang on a Can Marathon at Brooklyn Academy of Music
- 2002 ETHEL launches ETHEL's FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, a nonprofit organization designed to expand chamber music through innovative ETHEL performances, commissions, recordings, and educational workshops
- 2003 ETHEL opens the Kimmel Centers new FRESH INK series and debuts at Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Venice La Bienalle and the Library of Congress
- 2003 ETHEL presents a concert series performing the complete quartet music of John Zorn and Julia Wolfe at the Miller Theater, NYC
- 2003 ETHEL debuts its self-titled album ETHEL on Cantaloupe Music; Billboard Magazines Best Album of 2003
- 2004 ETHEL premieres at the Kennedy Center and in Houston, TX, Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Atlanta, GA, Minneapolis, MN, Berkeley, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Erie, PA, Lansing, MI, and Burlington, VT
- 2005 ETHEL appears on Late Night with Conan OBrien with Joe Jackson and Todd Rundgren
- 2005 ETHEL welcomes Cornelius Dufallo (violin) while founding member Todd Reynolds departs the band
- 2005 ETHEL begins a multi-year residency at the Native American Composer Apprentice Program (NACAP), as part of the Grand Canyon Music Festival (GCMF)
- 2006 ETHEL presents the first annual IN THE HOUSE OF ETHEL: SOLSTICE at World Financial Centers Winter Garden, NYC
- 2006 ETHEL releases LIGHT on Cantaloupe Music; #3 on Amazon.coms Best of 2006: Top Classical Editors Picks
- 2007 ETHEL curates ETHEL FAIR; an annual New York event celebrating ETHEL commissions, premieres, and artist collaborations
- 2008 ETHEL launches a 10-stop, 10-month long worldwide TruckStop™ performance/residency tour in honor of its 10th anniversary season