Meet Emissary Quartet | Flute Quartet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emissary Quartet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emissary, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
One of the biggest habits that has helped us succeed is staying organized and goal-oriented. As a chamber group, we’re constantly thinking about both the big picture and the small steps it takes to get there. For example, we regularly map out long-term projects and then set deadlines for the smaller tasks that will make them possible, whether that’s applying for grants, programming concerts far enough in advance to learn the repertoire deeply, or planning collaborations with other artists.
Another essential habit has been maintaining open communication and a commitment to collaboration. With four individual voices working together, it’s important that we all play to our strengths, checking in about each others’ workload from time to time and finding a balance within the group.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Emissary Quartet is a professional flute quartet, which already sets us apart as there aren’t many chamber ensembles of our kind! Our mission has always been to expand and champion the repertoire for flute quartet while carving out space for this unique instrumentation in the wider chamber music landscape.
What excites us most is collaboration. We love crossing artistic boundaries and engaging audiences in new ways. In 2023, we collaborated with visual artists at Houston’s BOX13 ArtSpace, where artists created works live during our performances, which were then auctioned. Last year, we partnered with Synchronous, an all-female dance collective, to present UTILITY, a 45-minute immersive experience where audiences moved through three rooms of an art gallery guided by flutists and dancers. We’re continuing this collaboration with a new project, HARBOR, premiering in New York City this fall.
Each of us has had a distinct career path all involving performing, teaching, and working in the arts in various capacities. Together, we share those experiences with the next generation, often giving classes at universities across the country. As passionate educators and performers, we want people to know that our work is not just about performance, it’s about creating meaningful artistic experiences, supporting new music, and showing what’s possible in a creative career.
It hasn’t always been easy. Carving out a place for a nontraditional ensemble requires persistence, creativity, and resilience. But every challenge has strengthened our belief in what we’re doing. We’ve learned that success comes from trusting our collective voice, embracing experimentation, and staying grounded in our mission of connection.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Montrose is full of incredible food, but a few favorites are Toasted Coconut for amazing food and tiki drinks, or hop over to Nonno’s next door for fantastic pizza and cocktails. Also check out Space Montrose for great gifts, and when you’re done you can grab food at Common Bond, Agora, or cross the street to Brasil for a meal. I’d definitely do a museum day, going to the MFAH, Contemporary Arts Museum, the Menil Collection, and smaller MFAH branches like Rienzi and Bayou Bend. Agnes nearby the museum district is a perfect cafe for any time of day. Up in the Heights, spend a day shopping and visiting coffee shops like New Heights or Cafe Forth. When you’re done, White Oak Drive has a lot of favorite spots — Handies Douzo for sushi handrolls, Padre’s Wine Bar, and Onion Creek for casual eats.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, we owe so much to our teachers and mentors. Jeanne Baxtresser (Former Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic, Professor Emerita of Carnegie Mellon University) and Alberto Almarza (Professor of Flute at Carnegie Mellon University) founded Emissary Quartet in 2010, and their vision and support have shaped our journey from the very beginning. We also want to recognize Marianne Gedigian (Professor of Flute at Rice University), who has taught each of us at some point in our careers and continues to offer invaluable guidance on what it means to have a life in music.
We are also deeply grateful to our friends, colleagues, and supporters who come to our concerts, tune into our virtual performances, and cheer us on. Their encouragement gives us the energy and inspiration to keep creating new programs and pushing the boundaries of what a flute quartet can be.

Website: https://www.emissaryquartet.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emissaryquartet

Facebook: https://facebook.com/emissaryquartet

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEmissaryQuartet

Image Credits
Nadine Photography, Natalie Gaynor