Our Story
Our Story
The Dolphins Quartet is a string quartet and composer collective dedicated to uniting spirits through musical interpretation, innovation, and improvisation. Based in New York City and formed at The Juilliard School, the Dolphins strive to make chamber music vibrant, relevant, personal, and reflective of our time. Their programs regularly feature works from the classical canon alongside underappreciated gems and original compositions.
The Dolphins have performed, taught, and collaborated across the United States. In Spring 2024, they were recognized as finalists in the Concert Artists Guild competition and have given masterclasses at major institutions including Duke and Shenandoah Universities. They are proud recipients of recent grants, including a Project Grant from the Marks Center at Juilliard and the 2025 Salon de Virtuosi Career Advancement Grant.
At Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the quartet presented the Juilliard premieres of Mieczysław Weinberg’s String Quartet No. 4 and Heitor Villa-Lobos’ String Quartet No. 5. They work closely with living composers, with recent collaborations including John Corigliano, Andy Akiho, and Jessie Montgomery. Their journey as composers began in 2023 with The Dolphin Miniatures, followed by The Angel Fire Quartet in 2024. That same year, they made their orchestral solo debut performing John Adams’ Absolute Jest at David Geffen Hall, conducted by the composer with the Juilliard Orchestra.
Festival appearances include Music from Angel Fire, the St. Lawrence Seminar, Kneisel Hall, and the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, where they premiered their original work Tales from the Great Lakes in June 2025. The following month, they traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, teaching in the Ghetto Classics program in partnership with Project: Music Heals Us.
The Dolphins currently serve as the Arts Leadership Ensemble for Project: Music Heals Us, where they help lead Music for the Future, an initiative bringing Juilliard’s composition curriculum to correctional facilities nationwide. In Spring 2025, they launched the inaugural edition of their own Young Composers Program, culminating in eleven world premieres by middle and highschool-aged student composers from the NYC-area.
The quartet has been mentored by many of the field’s most revered artists, including Joel Krosnick, Laurie Smukler, Fred Sherry, Molly Carr, Joseph Lin, Nina Lee, Natasha Brofsky, and Catherine Cho.
This fall, The Dolphins will release their debut album, Dolphins at Play, featuring their three original compositions. Upcoming highlights include performances in the Schneider Concerts and Salon de Virtuosi series, as well as a December album release Dolph-celebration.
In their free time, The Dolphins enjoy playing frisbee together and exploring nature wherever they travel. Additionally, Ian is a savvy rock-climber, James is a pie-baking connoisseur, Isaac is a master of various video games, and Luke actively maximizes his spice tolerance. And yes, they can swim.
Meet The Dolphins
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Luke, 22 years old, from Raleigh, North Carolina, began playing violin at the age of three. He currently studies with Ms. Laurie Smukler at The Juilliard School in New York City. Luke made his solo debut with the Georgia Philharmonic at age 12. In 2020, Luke was the Gold Medal Winner in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Coltman National Chamber Music Competition. In 2021 Luke won The American Prize in Instrumental Performance and the Grand Prize at the World Classical Music Awards. Luke performed with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra during their residency at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, playing the music of Duke Ellington. Luke was featured in celebration performances for contemporary composers John Adams, John Corigliano, Samuel Adler, Jesse Montgomery, and Reena Esmail and premiered numerous new works for solo violin. When not playing the violin, Luke enjoys hiking, and watching Bob Ross reruns.
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Ian Maloney is a cellist, composer, and chamber musician from Hackensack, New Jersey. He holds both a BM and MM from The Juilliard School, where he studied under the mentorship of the legendary Joel Krosnick. Ian has performed across the country alongside renowned artists such as Daniel Phillips, Keith Robinson, Molly Carr, and others.
He is a member of the award-winning Dolphins Quartet, where he manages the Young Composers Program and contributes actively to the group’s collaborative compositions. Outside the quartet, Ian has served as principal cellist of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and recorded with the New York Arabic Orchestra, including on the soundtrack for the video game Assassin’s Creed: Mirage.
On his days off, you’ll likely find him at the rock climbing gym in the morning, in the kitchen making bread during the afternoon, and on the couch in the evening—cheering on the New York Yankees.
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Violinist Isaac Park began his studies at the age of five with Sunny Kang, and has studied with Li Lin, Wei He, Helen Kim, and Chen Zhao. In 2024, he earned his Bachelor's Degree from Juilliard and is continuing his masters studies with Joseph Lin. He has enjoyed chamber music from an early age, playing in non profit groups, the Young Chamber Musicians, and at various festivals. Throughout the summers, Isaac has attended the Taos School of Music, Kneisel Hall, the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, the Saint Lawrence String Quartet Seminar, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and Music from Angelfire. Outside of music, Isaac is a big fan of video games and cooking Korean stews.
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James Preucil is a violist and composer interested in chamber music, community connection in many forms, and championing the viola as a solo instrument. James earned his Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he is now pursuing his Master of Music degree on full scholarship as a Kovner fellow under the tutelage of Samuel Rhodes and Molly Carr.
In January 2025, James self-released his debut solo album “Rush of the Tide”, comprised of two original multi-movement works and a short work, all for solo viola. Recently, he premiered a viola octet called “Dream City”. His works virtuosically push the limits of what is possible for the viola, always in service of specific and personal expression that the audience can connect with.
James also inspires violists all over the world with his YouTube channel “Viola King”, where his videos have been viewed millions of times across multiple platforms.
Our Press Kit
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