Since 2009, the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet (LAPQ) has forged a distinct identity as a world-class contemporary chamber music ensemble which is dedicated to commissioning and presenting new works for percussion quartets. Originally, members Nick Terry, Matt Cook, Justin DeHart, and Cory Hills joined together to create a classical percussion ensemble that would champion the important contributions of 20th century West Coast composers, while collaborating with local artists to continue the tradition of innovation and exploration. Today, the group continues their mission while broadening creative output through recordings, performances, and educational outreach.
Rūpa-Khandha, LAPQ's seminal album recorded at Skywalker Ranch in Marin, CA, pioneered a new level of sonic achievement in 2012 as the first 7.1 surround-sound high-fidelity recording of percussion chamber music. The quartet's recorded performance was praised by Neue Musikzeitung for presenting "the entire color-spectrum of global percussion instruments intelligently and with great competency," while Percussive Notes hailed LAPQ's commitment to champion "composers of thought-provoking and uncompromisingly intelligent music". The album was nominated several times in the 55th GRAMMY Awards, including in the prestigious category of Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.
LAPQ's performances range in scope from art museums, warehouses, and living room salons, to appearances in numerous distinguished concert series, including PASIC showcases, Monday Evening Concerts, Music and Conversations, People Inside Electronics, Morrison Artists, Fullerton Friends of Music, April in Santa Cruz, and the L.A. Composers Project. Equally committed to outreach and education, the quartet currently presents workshops and masterclasses to young musicians at middle schools, high schools, and many universities, such as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California, California Institute of the Arts, CSU (Sacramento, Bakersfield, East Bay, and Long Beach), and Occidental College.
The individual members of the group are active freelance performers and educators residing in Southern California. Collectively, they are graduates of America's leading music institutions, including USC, UC San Diego, California Institute of the Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, and Northwestern University. The Los Angeles Percussion Quartet exclusively endorses Yamaha, Innovative Percussion, REMO, Black Swamp Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.
