Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Astrid Schween

Astrid Schween is a cellist with the Juilliard String Quartet, having joined in 2016.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
323 w
Citations
11
Source
Astrid Schween
OriginNew York City, United States
GenresClassical
OccupationCellist
Instrumentcello
Years active1970–present
Websitewww.astridschween.com

Astrid Schween is a cellist with the Juilliard String Quartet, having joined in 2016.

Early life and education

Schween first heard a cello while listening to a concert at Tanglewood, she was three years old at the time.1 Schween began performing professionally in 1970 with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 16.2 Schween studied cello at Juilliard, closely under mentor Jacqueline du Pré, as well as Leonard Rose, Harvey Shapiro and Bernard Greenhouse;3 earning her bachelor's (1980) and master's degrees (1985).1

Career

While at Juillard, Schween was a member of the all-women's Lark Quartet,45 as well as a member of the Boston Trio.6 She joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2004.1 In 2016, Schween became the first female to join the Juilliard String Quartet,7 having replaced long-time cellist Joel Krosnick.6

Discography

JSQ albums

Honors and awards

As a group, the Lark Quartet won multiple awards in 1990, including the Karl Klingler International String Quartet Competition and the Namberg Chamber Music Award.8

References

References

  1. Eisenstadter, Dave (2015-06-03). "World on a string". Daily Hampshire Gazette. pp. a1, [1]. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  2. "Schween, Astrid | The Juilliard School". www.juilliard.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  3. Rita Fernandes (May 4, 2022). "Astrid Schween: Life Lessons". thestrad.com. Newsquest Specialist Media Limited. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  4. Smith, Steve (2006-11-21). "A Quartet's Tempting Tasting Menu". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  5. Oestreich, James R. (1999-05-31). "MUSIC REVIEW; Concluding an 'Opulent Music' Series". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  6. Woolfe, Zachary (2015-05-13). "Krosnick to Depart Juilliard String Quartet". New York Times ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  7. Oestreich, James R. (2017-12-03). "Three String Quartets in a Week. One of Them Is Trying New Things". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  8. Trotter, Herman (1991-11-17). "Musical merit distinguishes female quartet". The Buffalo News. p. 95. Retrieved 2025-01-08.