Described as “likable and warmhearted” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and “expert to the point of perfection” by the Chestnut Hill Local, the Fairmount String Quartet – Rachel Segal and Leah Kyoungwoon Kim-Tomilson, violins; Beth Dzwil, viola; Mimi Morris Kim, cello – has been leading the way in stretching the limits of the string quartet canon for 40 years. They are dedicated to bringing the intimacy and vitality of chamber music to diverse audiences and are committed to performing classical works of historically under-performed composers in addition to those in the standard classical repertoire, works by women composers, and works in diverse genres including pop, jazz, folk, and Latin music. The Fairmount String Quartet records on the Spring Garden Records label and is in residence at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Philadelphia.

Discography:

Lou Harrison’s “String Quartet Set” (2025)

“StringFlo” music for yoga, Pilates, and meditation by Ellen Fishman (2023) featured in Strings Magazine.

“Nodus Tollens” by Addison Rider (2023)

“Unleashed” music of women composers, Teresa Carreño, Ellen Fishman, and Fanny Hensel (2023)

“Amazing Grace” by Jennifer Higdon (2020)

“Spoken with Strings” pop music (2019)

All of the above recordings are available on all major streaming platforms.
CDs are also available at live performances or on request.
Fairmount String Quartet Spotify Page

2025-26 Season

The Mendelssohn Octet at the Arts at St. John’s
with guest artists Barbara Jaffe, Louise Jaffe, Melissa Locati, and Linda Metzler

Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1802 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA

Program:
Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet, Op. 33, #1
Jennifer Higdon – Amazing Grace
Felix Mendelssohn – Octet, Op. 20

Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

Classical Series 1 – “Hungarian Connections”
with guest artist Anna Kislitsyna, piano

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Forge Rd., Devon, PA

Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane, Phila., PA

Program:
Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet, Op. 33, #1
Gyorgy Ligeti – Old Hungarian Ballroom Dances
Ernst von Dohnanyi – Piano Quintet, Op. 26

Pay-what-you-can at the door admission. $30 for adults and $8 for students is suggested. A Meet the Artists reception follows these concerts.

Classical Series 2

Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane, Phila., PAMain Line

Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Settlement Music School, 318 Davisville Rd., Willow Grove, PA

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet, K. 589
Johannes Brahms – String Quartet Op. 51, #1

Pay-what-you-can at the door admission. $30 for adults and $8 for students is suggested. A Meet the Artists reception follows these concerts.

Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross

Friday, April 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane, Phila., PA

The Fairmount String Quartet performs Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 51 interspersed with spoken reflections by members of the St. Martin’s community. Free.

Classical Series 3 – “Starry Night”

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane, Phila., PA

Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Forge Rd., Devon, PA

Program:
Osvaldo Golijov – Tenebrae
Imogen Holst – Phantasy
Beethoven – String Quartet, Op. 59, #2

Pay-what-you-can at the door admission. $30 for adults and $8 for students is suggested. A Meet the Artists reception follows these concerts.

Listen

Sample Programs

• Music of Women Composers

  Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel – String Quartet in Eb
  Amy Beach – Quartet for Strings in One Movement
  Jennifer Higdon – Sky Quartet

• Harmony for Humanity

  Arvo Pärt – Fratres
  Lou Harrison – String Quartet Set
  Dmitri Shostakovich – String Quartet #3
  Jennifer Higdon – Amazing Grace

• Sky Dances
  Jennifer Higdon – “Blue Sky” from the Sky Quartet

  George Harrison – Here Comes the Sun

  Franz Haydn – String Quartet, Op. 64, #5, “The Lark” – “Allegro moderato” and “Finale – Vivace”

  Ellen Fishman – Lark Dances – “Allegro” and “Vivace”

  Copland – “Saturday Night Waltz” from Rodeo

  Leonard Bernstein – “Mambo”, “Tonight”, and “America” from West Side Story

  Claude Debussy – Clair de Lune

  William Bolcomb – “Graceful Ghost” from Three Ghost Rags

  Hoagy Carmichael – Stardust

  Van Morrision – Moondance
  Washington/Harline – When You Wish Upon a Star
• Nodus Tollens

  Germaine Tailleferre – String Quartet
  Nodus Tollens – Addison Rider
  Rhiannon Giddens – At the Purchaser’s Option
  Franz Schubert – String Quartet #14 in d minor, “Death and the Maiden”

• Latin Sounds

  Joaquín Turina – La oración del torero
  Teresa Carreño – String Quartet in b minor
  Heitor Villa-Lobos – String Quartet #5
  Arturo Márquez – Danzón #2
  Astor Piazzolla – Four for Tango

• Pack a Picnic Pops

  Choose from our extensive list of contemporary pop, standards, Latin music and music of the stage and screen (both movie and video game) or tell us about your audience and we will create a program for you.

• Educational Program

  Arcangelo Corelli – Gigue from “Sarabande, Gigue and Badinerie”
  Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet, Op. 76, #2, “The Quinten”, Finale – Vivace assai
  Ralph Vaughan Williams – Prelude on “Rhosymedre
  Jennifer Higdon – “Amazing Grace”
  Jennifer Higdon – Blue Sky from “Sky Quartet”
  Astor Piazzolla – Four for Tango
  Camila Cabello – Havana
  Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk