Jupiter String Quartet

The family group is an established phenomenon in many genres, but in classical music, such groups are rarer. The Jupiter String Quartet almost fills the bill, with nearly all of its members related by blood or marriage; the group has appeared at major venues in the U.S. and abroad, often performing contemporary music as well as core string quartet repertory. Second violinist Meg Freivogel McDonough, violist Liz Freivogel, cellist Daniel McDonough (Meg's husband), and first violinist Nelson Lee came together in 2001. In 2007, the quartet made its recording debut with an album of quartets by Shostakovich and Britten. In 2019, it released the album Alchemy with pianist Bernadette Harvey. In 2025, Lee departed the group and was succeeded by Mélanie Clapiès. The following year, the group issued the album Undreamed Shores, its last planned release with Lee as a member.