ph 214.288.8075 or email glori_meridianquartet.com
About us: Dean & Drew
VIOLINIST Dean Raskin, from El Paso, Texas, and began studying the violin at the age of 12 with violinist Fred Jewel. At 15, he began studying with Guillermo Quezada, principal violist of the El Paso and
Las Cruces Symphonies. During this time, he sat concertmaster of the district, regional, and mid-west summer music festivals held by K.U., N.M.S.U., A.S.U., and T.M.E.A. He won the McDowell Club Young Artist competition with his performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and also the Outstanding Soloist award at the World of Music Festival in SanDiego. Mr. Raskin holds a B.M. degree from The Juilliard School. He won the Source of New York Young Artist Competition performing the Bruch Violin Concerto which lead to a live performance at the Harlem School of the Arts. He has performed at the summer concerts held by the Meadowmount School and the Bowdoin International Music Festival for five consecutive summers. He studied with world-renowned violinists Margaret Pardee, Lewis Kaplan, and internationally acclaimed violinist Kevin Lawrence. He has performed in masterclasses by Kevin Lawrence, Margaret Pardee, Sally Thomas, Aaron Rosand, and Ruggiero Ricci. He has received direct chamber music coaching by Robert Mann (The Juilliard String Quartet), Stephen Clapp (The Oberlin Trio), and Peter Basquin (Aeolian Chamber Players). Crossing over to different styles and musical genres, Dean went on tour with the London based rock band David Marx and The Refugees performing in London, New York's CBGS's, and New Jersey. Continuing to expand his musical horizons, Dean also began to study jazz violin with Jonathan Fieg and performed with his band in New York. After moving to Dallas, Texas in 2001, Mr. Raskin has performed frequently with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the Allen Symphony, the Orchestra of the Pines, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. He is currently in his 6th season with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra performing monthly in Garland, Irving, and Arlington. Dean is recorded playing violin on his new CD "Harmony & Conflict" just released on July 6th 2008.
CELLIST Drew Johnson has played professionally with the Las Colinas Symphony, Garland Symphony, and Arlington Symphony since 2002. Mr. Johnson teaches a full award-winning private studio in Arlington, where he resides.
He was recently awarded the post as conductor of the Lone Star Youth Orchestra in Irving, TX. Mr. Johnson has studied chamber music through his life at many festivals and schools, including the Chamber Music Festival of Nebraska, Mimir Chamber Music Festival, and the Credomatic Music Festival in Costa Rica. Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington.
The Meridian String Quartet PO Box 200361 Arlington, TX 76006 ph 214.288.8075 glori_meridianquartet.com
