Last Friday, violinist Luke Henderson ’21 returned to campus with the Dolphin String Quartet, a chamber ensemble based in New York. The group performed a concert on Friday, and on Saturday, hosted a morning masterclass in Falls Hall. These events not only fostered artistic inspiration but also underscored the ensemble’s broader mission of reimagining joy and accessibility in chamber music.
The Friday night concert opened with Jessie Montegomery’s “Voodoo Dolls,” a contemporary work that set an energetic tone for the rest of the performance. The quartet continued with Mozart’s String Quartet in E-Flat Major, K. 428, whose rustic charm and elegant melodies provided a beautiful contrast. Then, the group brought warmth and energy to the stage with a lively set of Armenian folk songs, full of joyful, nostalgic melodies that delighted the audience.
“The composer was visiting our school to teach and give a concert, and we were asked to choose one of her pieces. We picked ‘Voodoo Dolls’ because we loved the energy — it fits really well on a lot of programs,” said violist James Preucil.
He continued, “Then we played a Mozart quartet. We knew we wanted to include something by Mozart, and this one felt like it fit our personality. It’s in E-flat major, which gives it a warmer, rustic character. After that, we played Armenian folk songs — those are always fun, easy to program, and audiences love them.”
The next morning, the quartet hosted a masterclass for Andover’s student chamber groups, hoping to inspire talented youth. Violist Ryan Baek ’28 participated in the session, reflecting on the emphasis on collaboration and clear communication.
“I thought it’d be a great opportunity to work with some really talented musicians, especially those with a lot more experience in chamber music. I really enjoyed hearing all the suggestions from the musicians in the quartet. They gave a lot of insight into how the piece could be interpreted, and it helped our group improve as a whole. It was the little details that made a big difference, like how to make everything more cohesive, how to listen to each other better, and how to work as a group,” said Baek.
The Dolphins String Quartet was originally founded by Henderson, Pruecil, and cellist Ian Maloney, and grew with the addition of violinist Isaac Park. In their early performances, they focused on community engagement, playing at local schools and retirement homes with the goal of making music accessible to all.
“Our goal is to bring music to as many people as possible and to encourage people to believe in their own musical capacity. Whether that’s writing music, loving music, or participating in any way, we want it to feel accessible. Making music something everyone can engage with — that’s probably our main goal,” said Preucil.
Henderson explained that his experience at Andover played a key role in his career. With the extensive support of staff and fellow students, Henderson began to believe that a musical path was possible for him.
“The resources here, and also in Boston, put me around people I never would’ve been able to work with elsewhere,” he said. “There was so much excitement around discovery and exploration, I felt encouraged to try new things, to be curious. I was surrounded by peers who were excited to explore, and adults who had done that in their own careers and were eager to support us. That environment really gave me the support I needed to grow.”
Advising aspiring musicians, Preucil stressed the importance of relationships. Having experience playing in a quartet, he emphasized the creative freedom that emerges when collaborating with enthusiastic partners. Preucil argued that collaboration is a gateway to self-exploration and creativity.
“With only four people, everyone matters, and you get to know each other deeply. You learn a lot about yourself, about collaboration, about communication, and about relationships in general.” Henderson added, “There’s this incredible freedom. We’re all people who aren’t afraid to try completely new or even crazy ideas. Whether it’s a phrase in a piece or a direction the music could take, everyone jumps in wholeheartedly. Play as much as you can with other people. It’s easy to think the path to success is spending tons of time alone in a practice room, and that’s definitely part of it, but only part. A lot of the joy comes from sharing music with others,” said Preucil.
