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Cuarteto Rústico is a string quartet comprising artists with Latin American roots. Originally from Chile, Colombia, Honduras, and Puerto Rico, Cuarteto Rústico's primary mission is to promote the origins, history, and culture of the Americas through music. Programs include classical and Latin American works originally written or arranged for string quartet. While performing works by composers from the Americas and Europe is a substantial part of Cuarteto Rústico's repertoire, folk music and popular music from the Americas is at the heart of their programs.Rústico (rustic) refers to a return to the most basic elements of nature in painting, poetry, letters, culinary arts, fashion, philosophy, and science. In music, rústico elements appear in various time periods in the works of many composers; Vivaldi, Haydn, Bartók, Gorecki, and Ginastera all use elements of folklore such as common songs and folk rhythms in their works. Cuarteto Rústico is a string quartet that enjoys emphasizing the rustic/rústico elements especially when they are encountered in classical and Latin American music.

George Anthony Figueroa, violin, (USA of Puerto Rican descent) has collaborated with La Catrina Quartet, winner of the Young Performers Career Advancement Showcase and semi-finalist in the Fourth International Joseph Joaquin Chamber Music Competition, and with Yo-Yo Ma, the Brentano, Miami and Turtle Island String Quartets.

Ariadna Buonviri, violin, (Colombia) is an avid chamber musician, and has performed with the Opus Nine Ensemble, Quartetto Alma, American Century Music, Mira Ensemble, and Aura String Quintet, among others. She is also Associate Principal Second Violin in the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

Cassandra Stephenson, viola, (USA) is a visiting professor for a núcleo in Acarigua, Venezuela, part of El Sistema. A native of Saratoga Springs, NY, she holds Doctoral and Masters Degrees from University of Maryland and graduated summa cum laude from Ithaca College.

Jorge Espinoza, cello, (Chile) holds Diplomas in Cello and Chamber Music from Peabody Conservatory, and received his Masters Degree in Music on full scholarship from Carnegie Mellon. He teaches privately and presents masterclasses in the US and abroad, including at the Third International Seminar Portuguesa-Acarigua, Venezuela, part of El Sistema.

Program:
String Quartet No. 4 , Música de Feria (Music of the Fair) (Mexico) Silvestre Revueltas (1899 – 1940);
String Quartet No. 1 (Selections) (Brazil) Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 – 1959)
Cantilena
Brincadeira
Chega de Saudade (Brazil) Antonio Jobim (1927 – 1994)
Fuga y Misterio (Argentina) Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Aura María, Pasillo (Colombia) Rafael A. González (1919-2010)
Salsa Clásica (Puerto Rico) Jorge A. Figueroa (1941) Washington, DC Premiere