Quince Ensemble

Quince Ensemble (sometimes referred to as Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble) is a contemporary treble vocal ensemble that specializes in contemporary classical music. In 2010, founding members, Amanda DeBoer Bartlett and Kayleigh Butcher met at a Neko Case concert in Bowling Green, Ohio while attending Bowling Green State University. Focusing on an all-female group, the two assembled a five-member ensemble consisting of McKayela Collins-Hornor, Aubrey von Almen, Liz Pearse, Kayleigh Butcher, and Amanda DeBoer Bartlett within a year.^[1][2] As performance schedules became more demanding, Aubrey and McKayela left the group,^[3] and Carrie Henneman Shaw of Ensemble Dal Niente joined the ensemble, resulting in the current quartet roster.^[4]

Quince Ensemble
Quince in 2018. (l-r): Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, Carrie Henneman Shaw, Kayleigh Butcher, Liz Pearse
Background information
Genres	Contemporary Classical
Years active	2010-present
Labels	New Focus Willow Street Thrill Jockey
Members	Amanda DeBoer Bartlett Kayleigh Butcher Liz Pearse Carrie Henneman Shaw
Past members	Aubrey von Almen McKayela Collins-Hornor
Website	www.quince-ensemble.com

Quince has since performed extensively throughout the United States, performing primarily new music works by 20th and 21st century composers including: David Lang,^[5] Morton Feldman,^[6] and Steve Reich^[7] and most recently, Jennifer Jolley,^[8] Evan Williams, Paul Pinto and Kate Soper.^[9]

Quince is signed to New Focus Recordings, and has released two albums with them.^[10] In July 2017, Quince's Hushers was judged "Critic's Choice" by Opera News^[9] and they were named "the Anonymous 4 of new music." They have also collaborated with high-caliber artists and ensembles such as Eighth Blackbird,^[11] Third Coast Percussion,^[1] Ensemble Dal Niente, and Laurie Anderson.^[12]