Megan Freivogel McDonough

Bio

Meg Freivogel McDonough, second violinist and founding member of the Jupiter String Quartet, grew up playing chamber music with her siblings. Her childhood music teachers Ronda Cole and John Kendall, with whom she studied in her hometown of St. Louis, inspired her to pursue a career in music. She attended the Cleveland Institute of Music for a Bachelor of Music degree, studying with Donald Weilerstein and participating in the flourishing chamber music program run by Peter Salaff and the Cavani Quartet. From there, Meg moved to Boston and the New England Conservatory where she obtained her Master of Music and Master of Chamber Music degrees, acting as teaching assistant to Donald Weilerstein and studying closely with Lucy Chapman, Paul Katz and other members of the Cleveland Quartet.

Since finishing her studies, she has traveled the world concertizing and teaching with the Jupiter String Quartet. As a founding member of the ensemble, she has won numerous awards and prizes including Grand Prize at the Banff International String Quartet and Fischoff Chamber Music Competitions, as well as an Avery Fischer Career Grant, the Cleveland Quartet Award and the Young Concert Artists auditions.  She has performed in some of the worlds’ greatest halls including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Kennedy Center. During the summer season, the quartet performs regularly at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Madeline Island Music Camp, the Skaneateles Festival, Yellow Barn Music Festival and Cape Cod Music Festival. They have recorded Shostakovich, Britten, Mendelssohn and Beethoven for Marquis Records and have also collaborated with Deutsche Grammaphon and Azica Records. A new recording of Ligeti and Beethoven is coming out soon. Meg is also a founding member of East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) which recently released its debut CD on E1 Records.

Inspired by how music has shaped her life, Meg wishes to share her belief that creating art through music can provide tools useful in life in general. She feels studying an instrument and working in a chamber music group provides invaluable experience learning to collaborate with others. This communication and process provide kindling for creative ideas and inspire personal growth, ultimately creating fulfillment and enjoyment in the artistic process. She wishes to keep chamber music easily accessible, current and interesting to young and old audiences alike. Her husband, Daniel McDonough, plays cello in the quartet, and her sister, Elizabeth Freivogel, plays viola.