Possessing a knack for adventurous yet accessible programming, enhakē (in-HA-kee) has consistently distinguished itself with performances of startling intensity. Drawing its name from the Seminole (Creek) word for sound or call, enhakē has been praised for their distinctive instrumentation – clarinet, violin, cello and piano – that allows them the flexibility to perform repertoire from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras as well as today’s most captivating contemporary works. The grand-prize winner of the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (2009), gold medalist of the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition at Carnegie Hall (2008) and finalist of the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (2011), enhakē has successfully toured on three continents at important venues and events, including Carnegie Hall, OK Mozart Festival, South Korea’s Young-San Arts Hall, Pan-Music Festival at the Seoul Arts Center and the Promising Artists of the 21st Century Series in Costa Rica under the auspices of the US Department of State and Costa Rica – North America Cultural Center. They have also been the ensemble-in-residence for the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Georgia and Tallahassee Youth Orchestras. Strong advocates for new music, enhakē has had works written for and/or dedicated to them by many of the world’s leading composers, including Edward Knight, Libby Larsen, Peter Lieuwen, SiHyun Uhm and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. The quartet’s members are all dedicated educators, having held posts at universities in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, they have been on faculty at the Chapel Hill International Chamber Music Workshop in North Carolina, Music in the Mountains Conservatory in Colorado and in Michigan at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. As a group, they have released well-received albums for the MSR Classics, Naxos and Emeritus labels. [ www.enhake.org ]
