The St. Lawrence String Quartet didn't have to look far to find its new second violinist. He is Scott St. John, an accomplished player and professor at the University of Toronto, where the quartet came together in 1989.
St. John, who has performed quintets and sextets with the St. Lawrence, will join the group next September. He replaces Barry Shiffman, who announced in November that he would leave the quartet to become head of music programs at the Banff Centre.
"When Barry informed us he was leaving, we put together a short list of 'dream' candidates," first violinist Geoff Nuttall said. "Scott was the first name on that list, and when we sat down to play with him, we all realized he really is the perfect fit for the SLSQ."
The appointment is permanent, although St. John left the door open for a return to the U of T after a year's leave of absence, when he will teach at Stanford University, where the St. Lawrence is in residence.