Candlelight Concerts: The Petrichord Quartet

The UNI Petrichord Quartet was formed in the fall of 2021. The quartet is made up of four members, Lauren Geerlings, violin, Emma Becker, violin, Julian Perez, viola, and Turner Sperry, cello. The quartet performs on the UNI campus, and has expanded to performing at weddings, on-campus events, and church ceremonies, among others. 

Lauren Geerlings - Violin

Lauren is a violinist in the Petrichord String Quartet. Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Lauren began studying violin privately at the age of nine and has continued ever since. Shortly after starting violin, she began learning oboe as her secondary instrument. Lauren is currently a junior and studies under Dr. Nash Ryder and Dr. Heather Peyton at the University of Northern Iowa, and is on track to graduate with a bachelor of music in Violin and Oboe Performance. In her free time she loves to draw, paint, and crochet.

Emma Becker - Violin

Emma is a violinist with the Petrichord String Quartet. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, she started playing the violin in fourth grade at the age of nine. She is currently a senior at the University of Northern Iowa where she studies under Dr. Nash Ryder for violin and is on track to receive her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a minor in Music. On top of Emma’s musical involvement in the group, she also works as the social media and public relations manager for the quartet. Outside of the ensemble, Emma is also a violinist in the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra with which she has performed regularly since the start of her education at UNI. Emma's plans for the future are to work in PR for music ensembles and to perform professionally in an orchestra.

Julian Perez - Viola

Julian Perez is a senior at the University of Northern Iowa majoring in Instrumental Music Education.  As well as being a violist for the Petrichord String Quartet, he is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Being from Elgin, Illinois, he eventually moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he began playing the viola at the age of 10. Julian has studied under violist Dr. Julia Bullard, violinist Dr. Steve Koh, and currently with Dr. Tyler Hendrickson for viola. His future plans are to become a high school orchestra teacher and pursue music individually.

Turner Sperry - Cello

Turner Sperry is a senior at the University of Northern Iowa and is majoring in Cello Performance. Raised in Blue Grass, Iowa, Turner started playing the cello at the age of nine and started studying privately at the age of 11. He has studied under cellists such as Hannah Holman, Dr. Rhonda Rider, Dr. Andrew Mark, Dr. Thomas Mesa, Neal Cary, and now with Isidora Nojkovic. As well as being the cellist, event coordinator, treasurer, and music librarian for the Petrichord String Quartet, he also subs in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, and the Fort Dodge Area Symphony Orchestra. He currently plays in the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist. Turner plans on attending graduate school for Cello Performance and to eventually become a professional symphony cellist. 

The Youth Art Team is an actual grassroots team of artists who have grown together since 2010. As more young artists want to join and the community wants to see more, the Youth Art Team has worked hard to keep up!

The Lead Team has become a strong and multiplying force. They walk through the creative process together first, preparing and providing leadership for additional teams so that hundreds of young artists and creative peers can play meaningful roles in public art experiences provided by the Youth Art Team each year. Now sixty artists, ages 5-18, make up four different teams.

The Youth Art Team’s experience is that the impact of the effort is greater when people work together. As an organization that must raise its own funding in order to work with our cities, schools, and art centers to make these community-based, public art projects possible, the Youth Art Team has become a local powerhouse for collaboration. The Lead Team is grateful to all of the brilliant, hardworking young artists who contribute their ideas and voices to Youth Art Team projects!

Meet the Imagination Coalition (formerly PROJECT 8), a group of leaders who are envisioning the Youth Art Team’s next phase of growth and becoming equipped to help lead it.

Classical

Grieg

Haydn

Smetana

Pop Selections

Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra 

Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles

With or Without You by U2

In My Blood by Shawn Mendes

Take On Me by a-Ha

Fireflies by Owl City

Girls Like You by Maroon 5

Merry Go Round of Life (Howl's Moving Castle) by Joe Hisaishi and Nicolas Horvath