Gestalt Quartet

About the Quartet

Formed in 2025, Gestalt Quartet brings excellence in performance and passion in musical storytelling, driven in its search for the ways in which music connects us as human beings. Accomplished individually, its members come together from unique backgrounds and experiences to share their love for chamber music with each other and with their audiences. Gestalt Quartet believes that the string quartet medium is a metaphor that can represent the best of humanity - at once unified and diverse, textured and blended, full of beauty and complexity.

  • Emily Barkakati has had a lifelong interest in storytelling, interdisciplinary collaboration, and creating access to the arts for everyone. She is an active freelancer in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, performing regularly with several ensembles including Opera Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ballet, and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. 

    More about Emily

  • Philadelphia-area native Shannon Merlino began violin lessons at nine years of age. Immediately upon receiving her rental instrument (and before having had a lesson), she declared that she would become a professional musician, and the rest, as they say, was history.

    More about Shannon


  • Praised for his "beautiful tone" and "exceptional quality of nobility in his playing," Filipino violinist and violist Lorenzo Raval is acclaimed for his versatility and dedication to the numerous aspects of his instruments - as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teacher.

    More about Lorenzo

  • Bio Coming Soon.

Concerts

  • Sunrise Concerts

    Wednesday, October 8, 2025 8:30am

    Three Logan Square
    1717 Arch Street

    Felix Mendelssohn
    String Quartet in A minor Op. 13

    Encore Pieces for String Quartet

  • PCCH Cantatas and Chamber Music Series

    Sunday, November 9, 2025
    4:00pm

    Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
    Philadelphia, PA

    Felix Mendelssohn
    String Quartet in A minor Op. 13

    Jessie Montgomery
    Source Code

    Dimitri Shostakovich
    String Quartet no. 8

  • First Presbyterian Church

    Sunday, April 19, 2026

    First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia

    Ludwig van Beethoven
    String Quartet in G Major Op. 18 no. 2

    Jessie Montgomery
    Source Code

    Johannes Brahms
    Clarinet Quintet in B minor

    Balint Karosi, clarinet

Contact Us

gestaltquartet@gmail.com

Philadelphia, PA

© 2025

All photos by Emily Barkakati

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