SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP
Spektral Quartet NFP was a Chicago-based contemporary classical string quartet (2010-2022) that commissioned, performed, and recorded new works blending classical, jazz, and electronic elements for adventurous audiences and partner festivals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersEvanston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP does
Spektral Quartet NFP was a Chicago-based contemporary classical string quartet that operated from 2010 through June 2022 as a not-for-profit organization under Illinois jurisdiction. The ensemble comprised violinists Clara Lyon and Theo Espy, violist Doyle Armbrust, and cellist Russell Rolen, supported at peak by a single staff hire (Development and Production Coordinator Alyssa Martinez, August 2018). Its core output was a portfolio of commissioned works, studio albums, and interdisciplinary art projects, including 'Behind the Wallpaper' (an 11-movement song cycle with vocalist Julia Holter, Alex Temple composing), 'Plain, Air' (a 45-minute site-specific lakeshore installation by Tonia Ko using 16 custom-built speakers), 'Enigma' (Anna Thorvaldsdóttir's first string quartet), and 'Yo Soy La Tradición' (an eight-part suite with saxophonist Miguel Zenón). The ensemble also produced 'Mobile Miniatures' (over 45 commissioned ringtones) and the art film 'Thus, The Night.'
The underlying technical and creative platform was contemporary string quartet performance with extended techniques — quarter-tone alterations, whisper passages, scrapes, slides, taps — combined with electronic processing, layered sound design, and spatial audio. The ensemble commissioned original works from Pulitzer Prize winners and Guggenheim Fellows, premiered them at venues including Constellation Chicago, Merkin Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, and the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, and released recordings on New Amsterdam Records and Sono Luminus, distributed via Bandcamp and streaming.
The business model mixed earned and contributed revenue. Earned streams comprised concert performance fees, commissioning fees (e.g., from Chamber Music America's Classical Commissioning Program), and one-time album license revenue. Contributed streams comprised grants and individual donations from foundations including Chamber Music America, Openlands, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Pricing was not publicly disclosed; ticket and album prices were not enumerated in source material. The ensemble ceased accepting new bookings after its 2022 wind-down and released final recordings in 2023. Operating status is closed.
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP
- Legal name
- Spektral Quartet NFP
- Website
- https://spektralquartet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Spektral Quartet NFP was a Chicago-based contemporary classical string quartet (2010-2022) that commissioned, performed, and recorded new works blending classical, jazz, and electronic elements for adventurous audiences and partner festivals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chamber Music Performance
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Sound Recording Studios (51224)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Music Producers & Production Teams (MPAIAHAB)
Keywords
Where SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Evanston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Concert Performance Fees: Performance fees from live concerts at venues, festivals, and special events. The ensemble no longer accepts new booking inquiries as they exited the stage in 2022.
- Album Sales: Sales of studio albums through record labels New Amsterdam Records and Sono Luminus, available on Bandcamp and streaming platforms. Albums include Behind the Wallpaper, Plain Air, and Enigma.
- Commissioning Fees: Fees for commissioned works funded by organizations such as Chamber Music America's Classical Commissioning Program and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
- Grants and Support: As an NFP, funding came from foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. Supported by organizations including Chamber Music America, Openlands, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and private supporters.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spektral Quartet is a Chicago-based contemporary classical string quartet that delivers live concert performances, commissions and premieres new works from contemporary composers, and releases studio albums and art film projects. Operating from 2010 to 2022, the ensemble combined two violins, viola, and cello to perform progressive string quartet repertoire across concert venues and festivals.
Product overview
Spektral Quartet NFP is a Chicago-based progressive string quartet (2010-2022) offering an interconnected portfolio of musical products and projects. The core offerings include recording albums (Behind the Wallpaper, Enigma, Yo Soy La Tradición), commissioned works (Plain, Air), and art films (Thus, The Night), alongside the innovative Mobile Miniatures ringtone project. These products collectively expand the classical string quartet repertoire and audience, blending contemporary composition with interdisciplinary collaborations across jazz, pop, and visual arts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Behind the Wallpaper An 11-movement song cycle composed by Alex Temple for string quartet and vocalist Julia Holter, blending indie pop, Weimar cabaret, Elizabethan music, and 19th-century Romanticism. Sold as a studio album to classical and contemporary music listeners.
- Enigma A three-movement string quartet work by Anna Thorvaldsdóttir exploring the in-between zone between sound and silence using extended string techniques and textured sound design. Released as an album on Sono Luminus.
- Yo Soy La Tradición An eight-part musical suite by alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón weaving Puerto Rican folkloric rhythms with jazz, chamber music, and classical vocabularies, performed with Spektral Quartet and released as an album.
- Plain, Air A 45-minute commissioned sonic meditation by composer Tonia Ko capturing Lake Michigan lakeshore ecology, employing custom-built speakers and field recordings. Released as a recording project by Spektral Quartet.
- Thus, The Night An original art film inspired by Henri Dutilleux's 'Ainsi la nuit' quartet, produced in collaboration with visual artist Antonia Contro and Four/Ten Media, featuring surrealist imagery filmed at Chicago's lakeshore, prairie, and metropolis.
- Mobile Miniatures A collection of over 45 ringtones and mobile alerts commissioned from contemporary composers, designed to bring contemporary classical music to mobile phones as downloadable audio.
- Live Concert Performances Live string quartet performances at concert venues, music festivals, and special events, featuring contemporary and classical repertoire. Performed at venues including Constellation Chicago, Merkin Concert Hall NYC, Kennedy Center, and festivals including Ecstatic Music Festival and Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
Quantifiable outcome
- Expanded classical music listenership and repertoire over 12 years of operation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- New Amsterdam RecordscoreRecord label that released 'Behind the Wallpaper' album by Alex Temple featuring Spektral Quartet and Julia Holter on March 3, 2023.
- Sono LuminuscoreRecord label that released Anna Thorvaldsdottir's 'Enigma' performed by Spektral Quartet on August 27, 2021.
- Chamber Music AmericacoreCommissioned Tonia Ko's 'Plain, Air' for Spektral Quartet through their Classical Commissioning Program. The piece captures Lake Michigan lakeshore ecology and was premiered outdoors at Openlands Lakeshore Preserve.
- OpenlandscoreChicago conservation organization that partnered with Spektral for the site-specific premiere of 'Plain, Air' at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. CEO Gerald W. Adelmann helped make the project possible.
- Four/Ten MediaminorProduction company (Kevin Eikenberg and Evan Chapman) creating art film 'Thus, The Night' inspired by Henri Dutilleux's 'Ainsi la nuit.' The duo, trained percussionists, creates musically authentic visual representations.
- Antonia ControminorVisual artist collaborating on 'Thus, The Night' art film. Her work explores nature of time and meaning of knowledge, featuring stunning visual imagery.
- Miguel ZenóncoreMacArthur Fellowship and Guggenheim Fellow saxophonist who collaborated with Spektral on album 'Yo Soy La Tradición,' released September 2018. The album interweaves Puerto Rican folkloric traditions with contemporary jazz and classical elements.
- GenslerminorArchitecture and design firm supporting the 'Thus, The Night' art film project.
- CBRE RealtyminorCommercial real estate firm supporting the 'Thus, The Night' art film project.
- Ragdale FoundationminorArts residency foundation supporting the 'Thus, The Night' art film project.
- William BrittelleminorProducer for 'Behind the Wallpaper' album, known for work with Roomful of Teeth.
- Zach HansonminorMixing engineer for 'Behind the Wallpaper' album, known for work with Bon Iver.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brooklyn Rider: Contemporary string quartet known for crossing genres (jazz, klezmer, indie, contemporary classical) and deep commissioning relationships. Highly analogous in profile: chamber-music purists who push into popular and world-music idioms, with comparable press traction in The New Yorker and NYT.
- JACK Quartet: New York-based contemporary string quartet specializing in new music with strong commissioning relationships and large ensemble of composer collaborators. Directly comparable as another forward-leaning string quartet ensemble operating in the same new-music ecosystem.
- International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE): Variable-instrumentation new-music ensemble focused on commissions and premieres of contemporary classical works. Comparable as a performer-driven commissioning organization that sits in the same new-music festival/Venue ecosystem as Spektral.
- Eighth Blackbird: Contemporary chamber ensemble (mixed instrumentation, including strings) with multiple Grammy wins and a strong commissioning pipeline. Closely comparable as a NFP-style contemporary ensemble that combines rigorous commissioning with crossover live performance.
- Calder Quartet: LA-based contemporary string quartet that commissions and premieres new works and crosses into film, dance, and pop crossover projects. Closely mirrors Spektral's interdisciplinary mix of contemporary classical commissions and genre-bending collaborations.
- Ethel String Quartet: New York-based contemporary string quartet combining performance with interdisciplinary collaborations (visual art, dance, film). Comparable as a contemporary string quartet that treats programming as sandbox-style exploration — explicitly similar artistic framing to Spektral.
- Alarm Will Sound: 20-member contemporary chamber ensemble that commissions new works and crosses into pop, jazz, and theater. Comparable as a NFP-style contemporary ensemble with a strong recorded catalog on its own label and active commissioning pipeline.
Broad incumbents
- Bang on a Can All-Stars: Pioneering contemporary chamber ensemble associated with the Bang on a Can new-music festival and commissioning program. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same contemporary-classical commissioning ecosystem Spektral inhabited.
- Kronos Quartet: Pioneering contemporary string quartet with a five-decade catalog of over 1,000 commissions and genre-crossing projects (film scores, world music, electronic). Operates as the broad incumbent in the same niche Spektral occupied, with much larger scale and global touring footprint.
Emerging players
- Roomful of Teeth: Grammy-winning vocal ensemble specializing in extended vocal techniques and contemporary commissions. Comparable as a small contemporary ensemble with crossover ambitions, and a direct collaborator of producer William Brittelle who also produced Spektral's Behind the Wallpaper.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP social profiles
Digital presenceSPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP
What does SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP do?
Spektral Quartet is a Chicago-based contemporary classical string quartet that delivers live concert performances, commissions and premieres new works from contemporary composers, and releases studio albums and art film projects. Operating from 2010 to 2022, the ensemble combined two violins, viola, and cello to perform progressive string quartet repertoire across concert venues and festivals.
Is SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP a public or private company?
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP founded?
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP based?
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP is headquartered in Evanston, United States, in the North America region.
How does SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Concert Performance Fees are the primary driver. The others are album Sales, commissioning Fees and grants and Support.
Who are SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brooklyn Rider, JACK Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Eighth Blackbird, Calder Quartet, Ethel String Quartet and Alarm Will Sound. Broad incumbents are Bang on a Can All-Stars and Kronos Quartet. Roomful of Teeth is listed as an emerging player.
Does SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP.
What industry is SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP in?
SPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP's product category is Chamber Music Performance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir), with a secondary code of MPAIAHAB, Music Producers & Production Teams. Its NAICS code is 71113.