The mission of the Marian Anderson String Quartet (MASQ) has been deeply aligned with the Simmons Center since long before our first collaboration in 2013. Very much like our namesake Marian Anderson, the MASQ has devoted its 30 year career to exploring issues of equality, diversity and expression from the perspective of the classical performing artist. As an ensemble of African-American women, our programming reflects our very personal desire to use sound to dispel the silence around these important topics.  

Our most recent visit, as part of the Center's 10th anniversary celebration, was centered around a recital entitled “On Being Enslaved” which chronicles the sojourn of the enslaved from the auction block to the concert stage. It is a journey in sound that explores themes of freedom, transformation, and the healing power of music.

It was our incredible honor to present this work under the auspices of the Simmons Center and we are excited by our discussions for future collaborations.