ABOUT US
We are Quart-Ed: a string quartet of qualified music teachers trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Through our work we strive to share all styles of music using our amazingly versatile instruments: popular, film, jazz, folk and Australian contemporary works as well as art music. We particularly prioritise collaborating with living Australian composers, and are guided by the principle of "pluralism" to consciously reflect the diversity of audiences and music makers.
Together we have shared music with students and lifelong learners from all over NSW. We create interactive performance programs that inform, educate and entertain, and continue to expand our repertoire and resources so we can reach more people through the joy and power of music.
MEET QUART-ED
SARAH QIU
Violinist
Sarah Qiu has completed her Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at Sydney Conservatorium, now seeking to combine performance skills and education skills in string pedagogy. Most recently, Sarah led performances as concertmaster in FEMUSC (Brazil), performing alongside maestros Leon Spierer, Alex Klein and Gregory Carreno. Sarah enjoys connecting with young people through working with organisations such as The Arts Unit and Sydney Youth Orchestras. She is always keen for a folk jam, having attended Stringmania and Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival.
Sarah hopes to continue to inspire youth to make music a part of their lives, and to keep exploring different genres, styles and ways of playing violin.
CONNOR MALANOS
Violist
Connor Malanos is a B.Mus (Music-Ed) graduate from the Sydney Con with a background in classical viola, and a foreground in making weird sounds with his mouth.
He has toured all over Australia and New Zealand delivering Beatboxing programs for students and workshops for teacher Professional Development, as well as filming his documentary on the topic.
Connor has been extremely fortunate to spend time performing and working with some of Australia's best musicians across a wide range of genres including Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rap, Folk, Electronic, A Cappella,
Connor is a strong advocate of
'the whole musician' and rounded development across a broad range of skills through Project Based Learning.
KAREN CORTEZ
Cellist
Karen Cortez is a genre-hopping cellist and amateur chorister, and completed her Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As well as being the cellist for Quart-Ed, Karen has recently been exploring the string folk scene and performed with the Narrownecks at the Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival in 2019. Karen sustained an anxiety-related playing injury in 2016 and is now on the road to recovery with a passion for awakening and deepening people’s musical identities, and developing healthy music making practices in school settings and beyond.
In her free time, Karen enjoys connecting with the world and people for whom music is about and for: Recently, she was a facilitator for Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT's environmental advocacy seminar, and is currently completing a Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership.
CAITLIN SANDIFORD
Violinist
Caitlin Sandiford is currently completing her Masters of Music (Music Education) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As a violinist and music educator, Caitlin values the importance of exploring all forms of music making, regularly performing, composing and producing music.
Throughout her musical endeavours, Caitlin has had the opportunity to explore diverse musical styles, including folk music, electronic music, musical theatre, Balinese Gamelan, hip-hop, pop and Western Art Music. This pluralism in her musicianship translates to her music education practice, with her current research exploring technology in music education, as well as her recent experience integrating the Ableton Push into the high school classroom.
