KOA STRING QUARTET

Koa String Quartet is composed of violinists Kisa Uradomo and Leah Pernick, violist Tommy Chafe, and cellist Heewon Lee. The quartet currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they work with faculty at the University of Michigan, including Matt Albert, Caroline Coade, and Kathryn Votapek. 

 

The members of the Koa String Quartet are from diverse backgrounds, but have intertwined musical careers, having studied at overlapping schools during their education. Kisa Uradomo is from Maui, Hawaii and studied at Eastman School of Music and University of Michigan; Leah Pernick is from Southeast Michigan studied at the University of Michigan; Tommy Chafe is from Annapolis, Maryland and studied at Oberlin Conservatory and University of Michigan; Heewon Lee is from O'ahu, Hawaii and studied at Oberlin Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. 

 

The group is invested in fostering musical engagement with students and presenting high quality classical music for community audiences. They play a diverse repertoire of music, including film scores, pop covers, and folk music, while also continuing the classical music repertoire together. During their time as a quartet, they have worked to prioritize their goals by participating as the Quartet-in-Residence at the Hana Hou Music Program and presenting free concerts at concert halls and public spaces throughout Ann Arbor. 

 

The name “Koa” comes from the tree in the Hawaiian Islands, and the wood symbolizes strength and courage.