NELSON, N.H. – (MyKeeneNow) The Apple Hill String Quartet (AHSQ) is set to welcome cellist Jacob MacKay as its newest member and co-artistic director starting in fall 2024. MacKay, a Francestown native and longtime Apple Hill alumnus, joins violinists Elise Kuder and Jesse MacDonald, and violist Mike Kelley in New Hampshire’s only full-time, professional resident string quartet.

MacKay’s connection with Apple Hill spans years, from attending the Summer Chamber Music Workshop at 13 to serving as a guest artist and summer faculty member. Previously, he was a resident musician with the Newport String Project and studied under prominent cellists at Brandeis University and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

Internationally recognized, MacKay has performed with the Silk Road Ensemble and in concert series such as the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. He currently plays with the New Bedford Symphony and the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

Reflecting on his new role, MacKay shared, “Apple Hill has been an integral part of my life. Joining the Apple Hill String Quartet is a dream come true, and I am eager to contribute to this remarkable organization.”

Established in 2008, the Apple Hill String Quartet has earned accolades like the Ewing Arts Award and is dedicated to performing, teaching, and fostering a love for chamber music across diverse communities.

Violist Mike Kelley expressed the quartet’s excitement: “Jacob is a brilliant cellist and a generous teacher. Having known Apple Hill from many perspectives, he is the perfect addition to our ensemble.”

The AHSQ will conduct Apple Hill’s 53rd annual chamber music workshop this summer, release a new recording later this year, and tour the west coast in early 2025.