Violinist David Bernat to Join Formosa Quartet

July 19, 2024, 3:11 PM · The Formosa Quartet announced Friday the appointment of violinist David Bernat, replacing violinist Wayne Lee, who joined in 2012 and is retiring from the quartet.

The Formosa Quartet, L-R: Matthew Cohen, Jasmine Lin, David Bernat and Deborah Pae. Photo courtesy of Formosa Quartet.

The Formosa Quartet, whose other members include violinist Jasmine Lin, violist Matthew Cohen, and cellist Deborah Pae, was formed in 2002 when the four Taiwanese-descended founders came together for a concert tour of Taiwan. Their name "Formosa" comes from the Portuguese word for "beautiful." The quartet's accolades include First Prize and Amadeus Prize at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, and they currently serve on faculty at Eastern Michigan University, Roosevelt University, and Heifetz International Music Institute. They have previously taught at the Taos School of Music and the Juilliard School.

Bernat is a performer, educator, and artistic director of the Grace Note Farm Music Festival. As a soloist and chamber musician, his recent engagements include performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood, Marlboro Music Festival, and Red Barn Chamber Music in Iowa City, as well as radio appearances on the BBC Radio 3 program "In Tune" and at WQXR’s Greene Space. A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Bernat has collaborated with composers Thomas Adès, John Adams, John Harbison, Augusta Read Thomas, Fred Lerdahl, and George Walker. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he is a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow at the Juilliard School and a member of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect during the 2023-2025 seasons. Bernat is also a distinguished chess player, achieving a National Master title in 2021 making him among the top one percent of players in the United States.

"I am thrilled to be joining Debbie, Jasmine, and Matt in this upcoming chapter of the Formosa Quartet!" Bernat said. "From my first experience playing with the quartet, I felt a unique warmth of spirit that allowed for a thrilling spontaneity and a true sense of exploration in the music making. It is particularly inspiring that these qualities extend into their constantly evolving vision for programming and their activities as educators. I am eager to begin creating with them, and am excited for the adventures ahead."

Outgoing violinist Lee expressed his gratitude for his years in the quartet: "After so many concerts performed, pieces learned, places seen, and meals shared, we have made countless, priceless memories together, and I remember most of
them like they happened yesterday," Lee said. "As I transition from quartet member to quartet groupie, I can’t wait to see what will happen in this next phase of FQ’s evolution."

Cohen, Pae, and Lin said in a statement: "In Wayne we could not have had a better colleague. Our quartet owes so much of its success to his artistry, intelligence, business savvy, sophistication, imaginativeness, heart, and team spirit. While we will miss him greatly, we
are tremendously excited to welcome David, whose brilliance, uniqueness, and creativity open
up whole new worlds of possibility in our onward journey."

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