Rasa String Quartet explores the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another.

Formed in 2019, the Boston-based ensemble consists of violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim, who are graduates of the New England Conservatory, the Shepherd School of Music, and Yale University.

Rasa String Quartet are winners of the 2022 Associazione Europea di Musica e Comunicazione International Chamber Music Competition (Italy), the 2021 Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition (ATL), the 2020 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition (OH), and were the 2022-23 ensemble in residence at Phillips Exeter Academy.

They’ve collaborated with renowned folk musicians like Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Irish fiddler Liz Carroll, and singer-songwriter Judy Collins, and performed across the country at venues including the 2023 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, Celebrity Series of Boston, Rockport Music, WGBH, WBUR, and the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. Their commitment to education has led to residencies at institutions like Walnut Hill School for the Arts, UMass Dartmouth, and Boston Music Project.

By exploring the connection between music and storytelling at the heart of folk traditions, Rasa String Quartet delivers fresh, engaging performances that blend classical elegance with folk whimsy, celebrate global traditions, and elevate lesser-known composers.

In Sanskrit, the term ‘Rasa’ refers to the indescribable power of any art form to inspire strong emotions in the reader or listener – a quality Rasa String Quartet strives to embody in every performance!