As the permanent quartet-in-residence of Music Haven, the Haven String Quartet's mission is to integrate music and creative endeavor into community life. The quartet provides access to free music education and world-class chamber music performances to residents in New Haven's most underserved neighborhoods. In conjunction with these activities, the Haven String Quartet actively performs in other communities, providing engaging performances in traditional concert halls and reaching new audiences in nonclassical venues.
Each quartet member is an exemplary performer who also enjoys the work of a teaching artist. They have graduated from such institutions as Yale University, Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Rice University, and Longy School of Music, and enjoy successful careers as performers and teachers.
Yaira Matyakubova, resident violinist
Yaira Matyakubova has performed in Carnegie Hall with the Silk Road Project in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zuckerman, and she is a tenured member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. She received her Bachelor's degree from The Harid Conservatory and her Master's degree from Rice University in Houston, where she was honored with a President's Award. Ms. Matyakubova further pursued her musical studies at Yale University from 2003-2005. Her teachers have included Syoko Aki, Kathleen Winkler, Julia Bushkova, and Isaak Reider.
Tina Lee Hadari, resident violinist
Tina Lee Hadari is the Founder and Executive Director of Music Haven. She has performed to critical acclaim as a soloist and chamber musician in halls worldwide. A prizewinner at the Fischoff, Plowman, and Chesapeake Chamber Music Competitions, Tina has cultivated a deep passion for chamber music. She began studying violin in the public schools in Indiana at the age of nine. Completing her undergraduate studies at the New England Conservatory and Tufts University, she received a B.M. in Violin Performance and a B.S. in Biology. She earned her Master’s degree at the Yale School of Music and completed her Doctoral degree at the University of Colorado. She has served on the faculties of Opus118, Apple Hill Chamber Music Center, the Neighborhood Music School, Boulder Suzuki Strings, and the EMS String Festival. Influential teachers include Karoly Schranz, Syoko Aki, James Buswell, Daniel Phillips, and Yair Kless.
Colin Benn, resident violist
Colin Benn, holds a Bachelor’s of Music from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Toby Appel. In 2003, he played a season with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro as well as recording sessions for CDs and films with artists Milton Nascimento, Wagner Tiso, and the Rio Strings. He played the 2004 season with the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and participated in the orchestra's concert tour of Latin America. He returned to the United States to pursue further studies with Mark Lakirovich. Before joining Music Haven, he played in regional opera orchestras in New York and for the two summers in OperaFestival in Florence, Italy. He recently performed with Ensemble Tomscha at Bargemusic in New York City.
Matt Beckmann, resident cellist
Matt Beckmann is an active performer with many diverse interests. He has given performances at many New York venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall as well as Joe’s Pub and The Stone. He has appeared regularly with Boston’s Callithumpian Consort and the Contemporary Ensemble at New England Conservatory, and has worked closely with composers Steve Reich, Helmut Lachenmann, David Lang, Michael Gandolfi, John Harbison and Elliott Carter.
A dedicated chamber musician, Matt has performed with violinist Joseph Silverstein and has studied with members of the Cleveland, Guarneri, Emerson, Juilliard and Borromeo Quartets, as well as Pamela Frank, Donald Weilerstein and Roger Tapping. Matt holds a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Natasha Brofsky. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he was also a member of the St. Olaf Cycling Team.
