Ian Maloney to Lead DOLPHINS QUARTET Workshop at Summer String Festival

Ian Maloney, a Hackensack native who once studied at The Elisabeth Morrow School, will return to the Englewood, N.J. institution as a mentor rather than a student this summer. Maloney, a founding member of the DOLPHINS QUARTET, will host a workshop with his ensemble as part of The Elisabeth Morrow School's 31st annual Summer String Festival, working with students ages 4 to 14.

Maloney will return to host a special workshop alongside his ensemble on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 1:30–2:15 p.m., as part of the festival. The Dolphins Quartet is a Juilliard-trained string quartet and composer collective celebrated for its adventurous programming, original compositions, and improvisational performances.

The ensemble has performed throughout the United States, premiered works at Lincoln Center, and collaborated with leading contemporary composers, including John Adams and Jessie Montgomery. A recipient of the 2025 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, the Dolphins Quartet released its debut album, Dolphins at Play, in early 2026. Its musicians will bring their creativity and collaborative spirit to the festival, offering students a firsthand look at the possibilities that emerge when classical training meets imagination and artistic exploration.

For Maloney, the festival represents a meaningful homecoming. He began his education at The Elisabeth Morrow School before attending Bergen County Academies, where he completed high school in two years, and later continued his musical training at The Juilliard School. Now, he will work with students ages 4–14, sharing not only his musical expertise but also the encouragement and guidance he once received as a young musician.

His return reflects the enduring spirit of the Summer String Festival: accomplished artists giving back, young musicians finding their confidence, and a shared love of music connecting one generation to the next.

Now entering its fourth decade, the Summer String Festival provides intensive instruction for talented young violin, viola, and cello students. Throughout the week, participants work closely with professional musicians and teaching artists through rehearsals, sectionals, workshops, and performance opportunities designed to strengthen their technique, deepen their artistry, and build their confidence.

Founding Artistic Director Amelia Gold, who also serves as Head of Lower School and Director of the Arts at The Elisabeth Morrow School, created the Summer String Festival to fill a need she saw more than 30 years ago. At the time, many summer music programs considered students younger than 12 too young for serious, advanced study. Gold believed young musicians were ready—and deserved the opportunity to be challenged, nurtured, and taken seriously.

The inaugural festival welcomed 78 students. Today, the competitive program admits more than 150 young musicians each summer.

'Every young musician arrives with a different story, but they share the same desire to learn, grow, and express themselves through music,' said Gold. 'For 31 years, this festival has given students the opportunity to discover what they are capable of while learning from extraordinary professional artists. Seeing former students like Ian return as teachers is especially meaningful because it brings the mission of the festival full circle.'

A final concert for the festival, taking place Friday, Aug. 14, from 1–2:30 p.m., at The Elisabeth Morrow School campus, 480 Next Day Hill Drive, in Englewood, celebrates a week of discipline, discovery, and connection—and the courage of young musicians learning to trust their talent and share it with an audience.

For more information about The Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival, visit elisabethmorrow.org/summer-string-festival.

About The Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival

Held annually in August, the Summer String Festival at The Elisabeth Morrow School is a week-long, pre-professional music intensive for string players ages 4 through Grade 8. Founded by Juilliard graduate Amelia Gold—Head of Lower School and Director of the Arts at The Elisabeth Morrow School—the program brings together young violinists, violists, and cellists to study and perform works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, and Bartók under the guidance of an expert faculty. The festival attracts over 300 auditioning students each year from as far away as Paris and Korea. Deeply committed to equity and access, Gold selects one-third of participants from underserved communities across New York and New Jersey. Financial assistance for families experiencing financial hardship is provided through private donations and The Kirjner Family Endowment, established in 2022 in memory of Carlos Kirjner—a passionate champion of classical music whose son attended the festival. Guided by a team of highly trained musicians and festival alumni, students receive individualized, high-caliber instruction in a supportive, inspiring environment.

About The Elisabeth Morrow School

Founded in 1930, The Elisabeth Morrow School (EMS) is a premier independent, co-educational day school in Englewood, NJ, serving students from age 2 through grade 8. EMS delivers a rigorous, project-based curriculum that blends academic excellence, design thinking, and ethical leadership. As a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School and NJ's only 2026 NAESP National Gold Star elementary/middle school, EMS holds an A+ Niche rating and is an active UN Global School and Apple Distinguished School. The school's program empowers children to think critically, work creatively, and lead with confidence, preparing them for a seamless transition to top secondary schools and success in a rapidly changing world. elisabethmorrow.org

The DOLPHINS QUARTET, a Juilliard-trained string quartet and composer collective, has performed nationally, premiered works at Lincoln Center, and collaborated with composers including John Adams and Jessie Montgomery. The ensemble received the 2025 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant and released its debut album, Dolphins at Play, in early 2026. Maloney previously attended Bergen County Academies before continuing his studies at The Juilliard School.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Elisabeth Morrow School

Need more Music Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...