The North Island Concert Society presents the Black Dog String Quartet on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Port Hardy Civic Centre.
Formed in 2007, the Black Dog String Quartet is composed of some of Vancouver’s finest musicians. The group has appeared on the recordings of artists such as 54-40, Marianas Trench, Bleeding Through, and many others. Individual members have performed live on stage with some of the world’s top acts, including Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Sting, Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, The Eagles, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Video Games Live. Recent performance highlights include opening for Sarah McLachlan at the SPC Global Conference, a concert with acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman at the Chan Centre, and an appearance at the Shambhala Music Festival.
Their solid classical background, high skill level, and collective open-mindedness set the Black Dog String Quartet apart as one of Vancouver’s most unique and versatile ensembles. The quartet’s debut album, a collection of original songs for string quartet and voice composed by John Kastelic, was released in late April 2023.
Consistently delivering performances with “conviction and imaginative sensitivity” (Vancouver Classical Music), the Black Dog String Quartet appears regularly at various public and private events, including classical chamber concerts, weddings, and corporate functions, as well as on film and television scores and other studio recordings. They’ve been a featured ensemble at the Quartetti Festival of String Quartets, Sonic Boom Festival of New Music, and Classical Revolution Vancouver, and all four members play regularly with multiple symphony orchestras.
The quartet’s members consist of the following:
Elyse Jacobson (violin)
Elyse enjoys a diverse musical career: in addition to her regular classical performances she has also performed and recorded with such artists as Michael Bublé, Rod Stewart, Marianas Trench, and many others.
Molly Mackinnon (violin)
She is an award-winning violinist and collaborative artists with a passion for storytelling through music, and has been seen on stages all across Vancouver.
John Kastelic (viola)
John is a violist and violinist, composer and arranger. He is equally at home in classical, folk, pop, and experimental music, and has performed on stage with many renowned artists such as Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé.
Doug Gorkoff (cello)
Doug is a full-time cellists and is very active throughout the Lower Mainland as a performer, educator and session musician. He has contributed to recordings of many different genres, and has performed onstage with many live acts including Sting and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Tickets are available at Café Guide in Port Hardy, at Island Dawn’s in Port McNeill, and from Gail Neely in Port Alice. The concert is at 7 pm at the Civic Centre. For further information, please call 250-956-0452.