The members of the Amernet String Quartet (left to right): Misha Vitenson, Marcia Littley, Michael Klotz, and Javier Arias. (Photo by Barbara Gottling)
The Amernet String Quartet is an all-Juilliard ensemble, with members from two different generations. Marcia Littley (B.M. '91, violin) and Javier Arias (B.M. '91, cello), who are married, founded the ensemble in 1991 while at the School. The other two members, Michael Klotz (M.M. '02, viola and violin) and Misha Vitenson (M.M. '02, violin) auditioned for the group in spring 2002 and were hired for the viola and first violin seats. Although this is only their second year of playing together, the members feel—and audiences agree—that this may be the best-sounding incarnation of the quartet.Four of the six points of the Amernet String Quartet's mission statement on its Web site (www.amernet.us) mention the audience—reaching audiences, expanding audiences, challenging audiences, educating audiences. The quartet is committed to the belief that performers and listeners are equal partners in the creation of art. The group up is equally passionate about achieving the highest level of musicality and reaching as many people as possible. Littley says, "It's wonderful to rehearse and try to play at the highest level you can. That's very inspirational, but it has to be far more meaningful than that."Obviously, increasing the audience is a good way for an artist to make sure he will stay in demand in the future. But, as Littley says, outreach goes beyond self-preservation: "I think that art really does encourage a higher level of thinking and of the choices we make in society. Classical music really lends itself to dealing with emotions, rather than blocking them out. That's a very important contribution of the arts—of any kind." To connect with as many audience members as possible, the quartet does outreach performances in schools, runs a summer program (through Northern Kentucky University) for both novice and experienced young musicians, and plays private house concerts, all of which give the members a chance to interact with the audience in a more intimate setting than the concert hall.The Amernets have received overwhelming support from fans and donors in their community. Klotz says he didn't realize how important community support was before he joined the quartet: "Having people like the Amernet Society, who believe in us and help us fund certain projects, is quite an asset. It really gives me a great sense of pleasure that the Amernet is viewed as Cincinnati's string quartet." The quartet has been based in Cincinnati for almost all of its existence, and the members teach at Northern Kentucky University's Patricia A. Corbett String Program, which was established for them in 2000. (The university is in Highland Heights, Ky., part of the greater Cincinnati area.) The program is part of the music department at N.K.U., offering degrees in music education, performance, and music. The department will have enough students this year to establish a chamber orchestra, an exciting step for the school and the quartet.Even though their Juilliard experiences were separated by about a decade, the quartet members find having the same alma mater is an advantage. Littley says: "I think having The common training leads to many things we don't have to discuss because a lot of the things are just second nature." Klotz agrees, and adds that he's had fun hearing about his colleagues' experiences at Juilliard and the ways that they overlap with his own. "We all have quite an affinity for [ear training teacher] Miss Cox," he says. "The way she drilled her rhythm exercises into us.… That has left a lasting impression on me."—Lisa Yelon
