Hamilton Village Quartet & Juliana Pereira | Featured Artist Series
Hamilton Village Quartet Live at the Palace
Photos By Ryan John Lee
Featured Artist Series: Hamilton Village Quartet and Juliana Pereira
When violinist Juliana Pereira came to Hamilton, she saw both a welcoming community and an opportunity to share something she deeply loves: chamber music. Originally from New York City, Juliana studied the Suzuki method at the School for Strings in Hell’s Kitchen and has built an international career performing across the U.S., Brazil, and Europe. Having performed in major concert halls and with ensembles ranging from chamber groups to full symphony orchestras, Juliana is most inspired by the intimacy and dialogue of chamber music, a passion that led her to collaborate in founding the Hamilton Village Quartet (HVQ) at Arts at the Palace.
Photos By Ryan John Lee
Juliana began playing violin at the age of three but her connection to music began long before she ever picked up a violin. “My mother is a professional singer and pianist, and she met my father while singing in a choir in Brazil, so you could say music is in my DNA,” she shares. Under her mother’s daily guidance, music became a defining language within their family. “Both of my siblings play the violin, and now all my nieces and nephews are playing instruments as well,” she says. “Growing up in a household where music was always around - someone practicing in another room or us performing together - has added so many dimensions to my musical life.” The constant exposure and inspiration of her family has become the cornerstone of her journey as a violist and musician.
Photos By Ryan John Lee
After splitting her time between NYC and Hamilton for several years with her partner, a Colgate professor, Juliana was ready to invest more time here and build something of her own in the community. Chamber music had long been at the heart of Juliana’s performing life, and without question she knew she wanted to bring a string quartet to Central New York.
Connecting with Henry Howard at Arts at the Palace and meeting fellow violinist Jessie Stark, who shared her enthusiasm and vision for chamber music, quickly led to the formation of the Hamilton Village Quartet. The ensemble came together naturally, featuring an exceptional lineup of musicians: cellist Hillary Glen, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Colgate University, and violist Claire Wilcox from the Colgate University Orchestra. From the start, HVQ had a clear vision, “to share a wide range of chamber music with the community, from beloved classics to contemporary and lesser-known works, in a way that feels fun, engaging, and accessible to everyone.”
Photos By Ryan John Lee
To date, HVQ has put on four string quartet concerts at the Palace Theater, “the community has really welcomed us with open arms,” she says. “I’ve loved the opportunity to share chamber music with this audience and to craft programs that feel fresh and personal. It feels like we’re building something really special here.”
Photos By Ryan John Lee
Reflecting on Hamilton’s evolving arts scene, Juliana feels energized by the growing creativity and collaboration happening throughout the community. “There’s a buzz around the arts community here,” she says. “There’s more creative programming at the Palace, new projects and collaborations taking shape, and a shared excitement about what’s next.” She adds, “It feels like something is building and gaining momentum, and it’s exciting to be part of that energy. I’d love to see this region continue to grow as a hub for the arts… a place that draws people not just for a weekend, but because there’s something genuinely and uniquely special happening here.”
As the Palace and the wider region continue to flourish, Juliana and the Hamilton Village Quartet are right in the center of that growth, inviting audiences to experience the joy and intimacy of live chamber music in the heart of Hamilton.
Photos By Ryan John Lee
