“Beta Quartet is redefining the medium in a way for which the flute world has been thirsty for a long time."
- Valerie ColemanDescribed as "chamber music at its finest" by Kenneth Tse and "unique and virtuosic" by Barbara Siesel, BETA Quartet is an award-winning ensemble comprised of flutists Eftihia Arkoudis, Tatiana Cassetta, Alyssa Schwartz, and Meg Brennan.
BETA is dedicated to exploring and promoting the cutting edge of modern flute music by premiering and performing works by living composers from around the world. The ensemble is actively engaged through concerts, masterclasses, and educational outreach across the country and abroad.
As strong competitors, BETA has won First Prize at France Music Competition 2° (2020) and West Virginia Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition (2016), First Prize at the Flute Society of Kentucky Quartet Competition (2017), and advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (2017). The group has performed and presented workshops at the National Flute Association Convention, Florida Flute Association Convention, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the WVU International Flute Symposium.
BETA’s activities have been partially funded by grants from The Friends of Flutes Foundation and West Virginia University, and their recognition within the flute community resulted in sponsorship by Flute Specialists, Inc. (Clawson, MI). As of 2019, BETA Quartet is also a Trevor James Low Flutes Ensemble.
Following the release of their self-titled debut album (2017), BETA commissioned Detroit based composer Marcus Elliott to write a work celebrating the feminine divine (2019) and recorded the world premiere of Nuraghi Warriors Dance (Ples Bojevnikov Nuraghi) composed by Anže Rozman and dedicated to the group (2020). Both albums are released with Merandi Records and are available through Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and www.betaquartet.com.
3Pirouetten is an experimental and multicultural flute trio made up of German flutist and composer Rainer Berger, and arts entrepreneurs and recording artists, Dr. Eftihia Arkoudis (Greece/USA) and Daniela Mars (Brazil/France).
The inception of the flute trio dates back to 2021 when Herr Berger was awarded a grant by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This grant facilitated the recording of an innovative cycle of compositions conceived during the first pandemic lockdown in Germany in 2020. Given the traveling constraints of the pandemic, the trio engaged in digital rehearsals, making the inaugural in-person performances and recording sessions a profound moment that shaped the foundation of a unique friendship among the musicians. Ever since, 3 Pirouetten has remained dedicated to performing works by Herr Berger and committed to generating new sounds and ideas utilizing the full range of flute voices (piccolo, flute, alto, bass, and contrabass flutes). Today, the trio’s repertoire has evolved to connect contemporary and traditional musical genres, juxtaposing Herr Berger’s compositions with staple works by J.S. Bach meticulously arranged for the distinct instrumentation of 3 Pirouetten.
The ensemble’s signature program “Berger & Bach,” has been presented in Kronenburg, Saarburg, Arenberg, Blankenheim, Brühl, and Luxembourg. It pays homage to baroque music, celebrates the nuances of Jazz and EDM (electronic dance music), and showcases memorable melodies often inspired by nature, groovy rhythms carried by beatboxing techniques, and sophisticated counterpoint. In November 2023, 3 Pirouetten was invited to perform at the Ludwig Forum of International Arts in the state of Aachen during the ceremony of the Walter Hasenclever Literature Prize awarded to Norbert Scheuer, further solidifying the group’s standing as an innovative and experimental flute trio.
"...ein abwechslungsreicher Abend, der Flötenmusik in vielen Facetten in den Mittelpunkt stellte." Ksta/Rundschau