The Bay Area’s premiere crossover string ensemble, Quartet San Francisco, was founded in 2001 by classical and jazz violinist Jeremy Cohen. “QSF was born out of the desire to create a genre of string chamber literature that gathers its material from popular music elements of recent decades,” Cohen explains, “still maintaining the integrity and spirit of traditional chamber music.”  Joining him in the group are Joseph Christianson (violin), Chad Kaltinger (viola), and Tyler DeVigal (cello). “I like to tailor textures and lines that maximize the strengths of the players in the group. I really do think about the distinct musical personalities around me in the quartet, and I write very specifically with my three colleagues in mind,” says Cohen. 

Quartet San Francisco has been recognized for their excellence in the classical- crossover genre with three Grammy nominations. QSF’s recordings have accumulated a total of seven Grammy nominations combined over the years. On stage QSF is stimulating, energetic, and provocative. The group performs material by Cohen and others in multiple genres—Latin, pop, jazz, bluegrass, R&B, and international music. QSF takes on all styles with authenticity and thoughtfulness, delivering them all with enthusiasm and formidable technique.

Cohen’s dedication to expanding the literature for the string quartet medium is at the heart of the group. Cohen explains, “We want it to be diverse, exciting, and eclectic. We’re always working toward an emotionally charged experience with a lot of craft and skill, not just for our listeners but for ourselves, too. We leave our concerts with an all-around better feeling about life, and I think our audiences do, too.” He adds, “Music can do so many things: heal, amuse, challenge, educate, comfort, organize. We work hard to infuse our concerts with that wide array of what music can do for the human spirit.” 

For over more than twenty years QSF has concertized extensively throughout the United States. The group’s international tours have included Argentina, China, Italy, Germany, Japan, New Caledonia, South Korea, and Turkey. Their concerts in performing arts centers range from recital programs to symphony orchestra subscription concerts performing Jeremy Cohen’s “Concerto Carnevale for String Quartet and Orchestra.” 

The group’s most recent recording project, Raymond Scott Reimagined (Violinjazz Recordings, 2023), focused on the legacy of the American composer Raymond Scott, whose character-filled works were frequently used in the Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies cartoons. The quartet collaborated on this project with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and the celebrated vocal group Take Six. A Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Composition was awarded to Raymond Scott (posthumously) and Gordon Goodwin for the track “Cutey and the Dragon.”

The quartet also presents small and large-scale programs with tango dancers Sandor and Parissa, who have appeared on Dancing with the Stars.