Our Mission
Tetra String Quartet is an Arizona nonprofit organization that serves the community and empowers the next generation through performing and teaching chamber music.
About Tetra
Tetra String Quartet is redefining the role of chamber music in today’s society. With relevance and versatility at the forefront of its mission, Tetra performs with the goal of connecting with all audiences. As both educators and performers, the quartet has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. Formed in 2010, they chose the name “tetra”, from the prefix meaning four, imagining the power of four individuals uniting in the spirit of change, creativity, and collaboration.
Invested in their home state of Arizona, Tetra became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to create more opportunities that link performance with public service. Their strong local presence engages audiences from every corner of the community and reflects their belief that access to the arts is an essential human right.
Tetra’s ongoing Play Out! initiative expands access to the community by putting music where it’s not. In 2015, Tetra created the Phoenix chapter of Azure Family Concerts. These free events are fun, friendly, and engaging performances tailored to those on the autism spectrum or with similar sensory processing challenges. In an effort to further connect with diverse populations, the quartet regularly performs for the elderly at memory care and assisted living facilities and youth at the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center. Tetra has been invited to share the impact of their work at events including TEDx Arrowhead Ranch’s “Act Today, Change Tomorrow”, and Stanford University’s Summer Arts Institute, “Why Music Matters”.
Equally at home in the classroom as on stage, the quartet has performed educational concerts for thousands of K-12 students. These interactive concert experiences are designed to enhance existing curriculums and introduce active listening to ignite curiosity and reflection. Beyond these presentations, Tetra maintains a chamber music residency project with area elementary, middle, and high schools and has been annually awarded a City of Tempe Arts Grant since 2013. As Teaching Artists, Tetra has been featured at Arizona State University, Arizona Musicfest, Phoenix Chamber Music Society, SOUNDS Academy, West Valley Arts Council, Young Audiences, and the Musical Instrument Museum. In 2014 & 2015, the quartet was selected to present sessions on their curriculum and musical entrepreneurship at the American String Teacher’s Association National Conference.
With a desire to inspire the next generation, Tetra created the Tetra Chamber Music Institute (TCMI). The mission of TCMI is to train young musicians to perform in small ensembles with excellence and channel their creative strengths to effect positive change in themselves and the community. What began in 2012 as a summer camp, has expanded into two ‘Summer Workshops’ and a year-round afterschool chamber music program, the first of its kind in Arizona. As an alternative OR addition to youth orchestra programs, TCMI focuses on each student as an individual with the goal of nurturing each participant intellectually, emotionally, and musically.
Our Mission in Action
Tetra Chamber Music Institute
Inspiring the next generation of chamber musicians with our after-school program and summer workshops
Play Out!
Providing free performances and educational opportunities to underserved communities in Arizona through our musical service initiative: Play Out!
The Members of Tetra
Meghan Ruel, Violin
Heidi Wright, Violin
Kim Hankins, Viola
Jenna Dalbey, Cello
Tetra Timeline
2023
Meghan joins Tetra as first violinist.
A recording of Tetra String Quartet is featured on the final episode of the HBO series ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’
2022
Emilio becomes Tetra board president.
Tetra expands their Tempe Chamber Music Residency to include Elementary and Middle Schools.
KN Martin is the winner of Tetra’s first Composition Competition.
2021
Kim joins Tetra as violist.
TCMI Collaboration Station online summer workshop.
First year of the after-school Tetra Chamber Music Institute.
Tetra begins rap writing workshops in collaboration with Colby Jeffers at Maricopa Juvenile Detention.
2020
We powered through the pandemic and continued our residency with the Tempe schools, residency at Friendship and Azure family concerts with lots of video content.
Ran the TCMI Quartet Quarantine online summer program.
Chandi arranged a piece that Tetra performed with a dancer and her husband, Eric.
2019
Tetra String Quartet appears in the Sci-Fi movie ‘Intersect.’
2018
Chandi joins Tetra as first violinist.
Tetra partners with Florence Crittenton to offer songwriting workshops.
2017
Tetra hosts their first Holiday Celebration and Silent Auction.
2016
Tetra String Quartet becomes a nonprofit organization.
Tetra String Quartet is a featured presenter at TEDxArrowheadRanch.
2015
Tetra creates the Phoenix chapter of Azure Family Concerts.
Tetra begins collaborating with the Phoenix VA Hospital’s Community Living Center.
Tetra begins their partnership with the Maricopa Juvenile Detention Centers, performing twice a year for youth at the Mesa and Phoenix locations.
2014
Tetra presents at the American String Teacher’s Association National Conference for the first time.
2013
Tetra receives their first City of Tempe Arts Grant (and receives one yearly through 2023!).
Tetra partners with Arizona Musicfest to provide educational assemblies to elementary school students.
Tetra partners with Young Audiences, a national non-profit organization, to perform for over 3,000 K-12 students in Nogales, AZ.
Tetra begins their partnership with Friendship Village Tempe where they are still an ensemble-in-residence.
Tetra serves as guest artists and chamber music coaches at Saarburg Festival in Germany.
2012
Tetra holds their very first summer camp, now known as TCMI Summer Workshops.
Tetra String Quartet is part of the Artist Residency Program at the Musical Instrument Museum.
Ecuador tour through sister cities program.
2011
Tetra records and produces the ‘Tetra String Quartet Christmas’ album.
Tetra becomes Faculty Associates at Arizona State University.
FEMUSC in Brazil.
2010
Tetra String Quartet is formed.