{"id":225968,"date":"2025-04-24T11:47:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T15:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=225968"},"modified":"2025-04-24T13:09:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T17:09:18","slug":"music-with-meaning-montclairs-trillium-string-quartet-hits-all-the-right-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/04\/24\/music-with-meaning-montclairs-trillium-string-quartet-hits-all-the-right-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Music with Meaning: Montclair\u2019s Trillium String Quartet Hits All the Right Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/trilliumstringquartet.com\/\">Trillium String Quartet<\/a> tunes their instruments, the sound draws veterans into the community room at Valley Brook Village for Veterans in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Harriel Lacy, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, pauses to greet Montclair State University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/\">John J. Cali School of Music<\/a> students, sharing that he once played violin himself. Without missing a beat, violinist Sommer Altier offers to let him play hers later.<\/p>\n<p>The quartet members are part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/cali-collective\/\">Cali Collective Ensemble<\/a>, an immersive two-year program where graduate students earn an Artist&#8217;s Diploma Certificate while developing real-world performance experience. The Ensemble consists of seven students, including the Trillium String Quartet. Montclair\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/graduate-quartet-residency\/\">Graduate Quartet Residency<\/a> is among fewer than 15 such programs at prominent music schools in the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny string quartet like ours is looking at about five different programs, and Montclair is one of them, and that&#8217;s how we found this,\u201d says violinist Judith Kim, a Seattle native.<\/p>\n<p>Trillium is made up of violinists Kim and Altier, violist Sydney Link of Cincinnati, and cellist Amelia Smerz of Chicago. All now living in the New York City area, they decided to pursue the immersive opportunity Montclair offers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe aim is to prepare string quartets for professional careers through intensive study and performances,\u201d says Cali School Director Anthony Mazzocchi, a GRAMMY\u00ae-nominated educator.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28264_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP-1.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28264_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP-1.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\": A retired veteran stands and chats with members of the Trillium String Quartet.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harriel Lacy, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, talks with Trillium members, sharing that he played violin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>What Sets Montclair\u2019s Graduate Quartet Residency Apart?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One quartet is selected every two years for intensive study and performance opportunities. Program highlights include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dedicated quartet studio and weekly private lessons<\/li>\n<li>Full tuition, including $7,000 annual stipend<\/li>\n<li>Regular coaching with faculty and quartet in residence<\/li>\n<li>Artist&#8217;s Diploma Certificate \u2013 A post-master\u2019s credential centered on real-world experience<\/li>\n<li>Outreach-Focused Curriculum \u2013 Students may perform in prisons, shelters, and veterans\u2019 facilities through the Music for All Seasons partnership<\/li>\n<li>Access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/cali-residency\/\">Cali Immersive Residency<\/a> \u2013 Opportunities to perform with world-renowned artists, such as 19-time GRAMMY\u00ae-winning banjoist B\u00e9la Fleck or the two-time GRAMMY\u00ae-winning Attacca Quartet, gaining insight from guest professionals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThere are not that many programs where you can just be a quartet and that\u2019s your focus,\u201d says Smerz. \u201cWe got to play with B\u00e9la Fleck, who is a great musician. Those kinds of experiences are cool, and they have stretched us and given us a lot of opportunities that we wouldn\u2019t have otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28693_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP-1.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28693_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP-1.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Sommer Altier plays violin.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sommer Altier plays violin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>A Performance Partnership with Music for All Seasons<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Through a unique partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicforallseasons.org\/\">Music for All Seasons<\/a> (MFAS) \u2014 a nonprofit connecting professional musicians with underserved audiences \u2013 the students perform in nontraditional settings, from juvenile detention centers to shelters and veterans communities. The partnership is in keeping with Montclair\u2019s commitment to academic excellence and as a public-serving institution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re bringing the music to the people,\u201d says Altier. \u201cWe really love when we get to bring music to places where people may not get it as often. We always learn that people find it very touching, and seeing those smiles is a big part of what fulfills us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Performances like the one at Valley Brook Village allow students to connect one-on-one with their audience. \u201cThis is super personal,\u201d says violist Link. \u201cWe could speak to each one of our audience members if we wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MFAS Executive Director Rena Fruchter says MFAS has a relationship with Valley Brook Village, where the organization has also provided veterans with therapeutic songwriting workshops. \u201cWe wanted to provide an opportunity for the veterans to experience the students who were part of the partnership,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28894_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_28894_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"An audience of veterans listen as Trillium plays.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Veterans at Valley Brook Village listen intently as Trillium plays.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>A Legacy of Connection<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The partnership with Music for All Seasons has deep roots. Mazzocchi first performed with MFAS while in a trombone quartet at the Manhattan School of Music. Actor Dudley Moore was a major supporter of the nonprofit at the time, and Mazzocchi\u2019s quartet played at a birthday party for him, as well as his funeral. His MFAS experience was formative, he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI learned to communicate with so many different humans in various settings,\u201d Mazzochi says. \u201cIt set me up in profound ways as a musician, educator and leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, when MFAS approached Montclair about a partnership, it was a no-brainer. \u201cI wanted our students to have the same experiences I did at their age,\u201d Mazzochi says.<\/p>\n<p>Fruchter agrees that the program goes far beyond technical performance training.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost students in a performing arts program work primarily on their musical skills. What makes this program different is that it expands the students\u2019 horizons,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is a mentorship program, and these appearances are part of their educational curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MFAS pairs students with mentors, audiences and opportunities that broaden their understanding of music\u2019s role in society.<\/p>\n<p>Diane Michaels, a harpist who has performed on Broadway, in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and with Tony Bennett at Caesar\u2019s Palace in Atlantic City, mentors the quartet. She offers advice and feedback on the musical program and engages with the audience. \u201cTrillium comes to the collaboration possessing a host of skills beautifully suited to fulfilling the MFAS mission, and it has been a pleasure mentoring them.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_29081_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_29081_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Violinist Judith Kim talks to the audience.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Violinist Judith Kim shares with the audience the genre, composer and history of the next song.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_29293_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_29293_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A closeup of sheet music on a digital tablet.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A closeup of sheet music on a digital tablet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Looking to the Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Trillium String Quartet plans to stay together long-term. Next year, they\u2019ll teach at a chamber music program in Vermont. \u201cWe want to be a quartet for the rest of our lives,\u201d says Smerz, \u201cperforming and traveling and playing in as many different places for as many different people as we possibly can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At Valley Brook, the impact of the quartet\u2019s performance was clear. One veteran pretend-directed slower classical pieces, some tapped hands and feet to livelier jazz tunes, such as &#8220;Take the A Train&#8221; and several sang along to \u201cHallelujah\u201d and \u201cAmazing Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was wonderful,\u201d says Lacy. \u201cMy favorite part was \u2018Amazing Grace,\u2019 which is why I requested it the second time.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_30426_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_30426_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A veteran motions with his hand as he listens to a musical performance.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A veteran\u2019s hand follows the music.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_30208_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/04\/032525_30208_CALI-Students-at-VA-Housing_MP.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Veterans applaud after a song performance.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Veterans applaud the musical performance by Trillium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Photos by University Photographer <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=petersm\"><strong><em>Mike Peters.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Interested in Studying Music at Montclair?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re a music student who wants world-class training and the opportunity to make a real impact, graduate programs at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/\">John J. Cali School of Music<\/a> could be for you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are you a\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Prospective Student or Parent? Learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/cali-collective\/\">Cali Collective Ensemble<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/graduate-quartet-residency\/\">Graduate Quartet Residency<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/cali-residency\/\">Cali Immersive Residency<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/apply-to-montclair-state\/\">apply<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/\">Montclair State University<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Journalist?<\/p>\n<p>Contact the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/contact-media-relations\/\"> Media Relations team<\/a> for assets or to schedule an interview with a graduating student.<\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/\/ Output tags as a list for Google Analytics custom dimension\nwindow.MSU_TagList = [\"John J. Cali School of Music\"];\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graduate musicians at Montclair State University combine top-tier training with community impact through residency program, partnership<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"featured_media":225975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,10],"tags":[468],"class_list":["post-225968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-university","tag-john-j-cali-school-of-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225968"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":225992,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225968\/revisions\/225992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}