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In the spring of 2021, a group of St. Olaf College musicians began gathering weekly as a casual, fun, sight-reading ensemble. Within a year, they were competing in — and placing at — national competitions. 

The Hoyde Quartet was founded by violinists Grace Alexander ’23 and Owen Cromwell ’23, violist Louis Dhoore ’23, and cellist Henry Paton ’22. This past year they performed in three national chamber music competitions, placing in both the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition and the Frances Walton Competition hosted by the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle. 

Despite their busy musical schedules, the four initially began their group as a way to have fun. However, after several months of playing together, they decided that their quartet was something they would like to pursue more seriously. The Hoyde Quartet was made official that fall, named for the Norwegian word for “hill” in acknowledgement of the campus that brought them together.

“When we are rehearsing, we are having fun despite working really hard to perfect our pieces. It is definitely work, but it’s the kind of work that is motivating instead of draining. We all became really close quickly and we developed a strong bond,” Cromwell says. 

In December of 2021, they decided to enter several national chamber music competitions with the support of St. Olaf music faculty members Charles Gray and Ray Shows. After only three months of preparation, rehearsing 8-15 hours a week, the group submitted recordings and made it to the finals of two competitions, winning the Audience Prize in the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition in April of 2022 and traveling to Seattle to play as the youngest of three groups, and only string quartet, in the finals of the Frances Walton Competition.

“This past year was a real eye-opener for us into the world of chamber music and the competition scene. Being a finalist in two of the three competitions we applied for showed us that we definitely have a spot and a chance, especially when we were put against a group of graduate students and two professionals near the age of 30,” Cromwell says. 

Owen Cromwell ’23This past year was a real eye-opener for us into the world of chamber music and the competition scene. Being a finalist in two of the three competitions we applied for showed us that we definitely have a spot and a chance, especially when we were put against a group of graduate students and two professionals near the age of 30.

Although they enjoy the technical challenge of 18th and 19th century music, the quartet often gravitates toward 20th century and contemporary music because of the wide varieties of style and sound. They are currently working on pieces by Shostakovich and Prokofiev, and have previously performed music by Bela Bartok, Jessie Montgomery, John Adams, and Zhou Tian.

All four members of the quartet have been involved in music at St. Olaf outside of chamber music as well. Cromwell, a computer science and music double major, is the student manager of the St. Olaf Orchestra. Alexander, a BM violin performance major, is the vice president of the St. Olaf Orchestra, works for Music Admissions and Music Organizations, is co-founder and co-artistic director of Synergy Musicians’ Collective, and is one of the Class of 2023 representatives on the Music Department Student Committee. Dhoore, a music composition major, is the president of Musika Nova and on the executive board of the Synergy Musician’s Collective. Paton, who graduated in May of 2022 with a major in economics and a concentration in race and ethnic studies, currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska. All four have been members of the St. Olaf Orchestra. 

Owen Cromwell ’23Yes, we are making great music, but what makes it so much fun is that we are making music with our friends. There is something really special that happens when you have such a small group of musicians so strongly united and motivated to achieve a common goal.

They hope to continue working together after they all graduate, and are interested in getting involved in the Pacific Northwest chamber music scene. 

“When you boil it down, we all really just enjoy being around one another,” Cromwell says. “Yes, we are making great music, but what makes it so much fun is that we are making music with our friends. There is something really special that happens when you have such a small group of musicians so strongly united and motivated to achieve a common goal.”