The award-winning Borromeo String Quartet, an ensemble hailed for its "edge-of-the-seat performances" by the Boston Globe, which called it "simply the best there is," will be in residence at SFCM, March 14–17. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Borromeo String Quartet continues to be a pioneer in its use of technology, and has the trailblazing distinction of being the first string quartet to utilize laptop computers on the concert stage. Reading music this way helps push artistic boundaries, allowing the artists to perform solely from 4-part scores and composers' manuscripts, a revealing and metamorphic experience which these dedicated musicians now teach around the world. The ensemble brings this method to the Osher Salon on March 16 as they present a discussion of the collection of alternate movements to the six quartets of Béla Bartók that the composer decided not to use. This is a rare opportunity for attendees because these are private excerpts owned by the composer's son Peter Bartók and given to the Borromeo by special permission.

On March 14, the Borromeo String Quartet will present a marathon concert of all six of Bartók's quartets. Also as part of their residency, the Borromeo presents a masterclass featuring SFCM chamber music students on March 15. The quartet rounds out their residency on March 17 with a concert featuring works by Schubert, Mahler, Webern, as well as Mendelssohn's Octet with the Thalea String Quartet.