The Prospero Quartet was founded in June 2015 by USM Alumni and violinists Aaron Pettengill and Victoria Hurlburt, Senior violist Leigh-Ashley Milne, and Junior cellist Cameron Prescott. As a classical focused string quartet, our performances include a wide variety of literature from Mozart to Bloch as well as some more contemporary literature written by composers in the Portland area.
About Us
Aaron Pettengill
Aaron Pettengill's life-long fascination with the violin was sparked in the third grade when he first heard a live orchestra. Since then, his dedication to the instrument has been unwavering.
As a student Aaron took advantage of every musical opportunity he could. Before graduating high school, he became concertmaster of both the Maine All-State Orchestra and the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra. When he attended the University of Southern Maine for his bachelor's degree, he was concertmaster of the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra. He has been the recipient of many honors. He received the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Scholarship, he performed as the Featured Young Artist at the White Mountain Bach Festival, and at USM he performed in the Honors recital and as a winner of the Concerto Competition.
Aaron is also a composer. He started composing in high school but it wasn't until he began studying at USM that he really began composing seriously. Some of Aaron's compositions have won competitions. He was the winner of the Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Young Composers Competition and he was a winner of the first USM Composition Competition.
Since graduating from USM, Aaron has performed all over the state of Maine. He's a member of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and he has also performed with many other groups such as Maine Music Society, Maine State Music Theater, and Portland Ballet. Currently, Aaron teaches elementary and middle school strings full-time for Lewiston Public Schools.
Aaron owes a lot to his past teachers. Among his violin teachers are Anne Wilkinson, Deirdre Oehrtmann, Ronald Lantz, and Robert Lehmann. He also studied composition with Dan Sonenberg.
Victoria Hurlburt
Having recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a double major in music education and performance, Victoria Hurlburt is pursuing a career as a music instructor and teacher as well as becoming recognized as an exceptional performer in the Portland area. During her college career, she studied violin under the tutelage of Robert Lehmann, and has also had prior instruction under Ronald Lantz of the Portland String Quartet. In the last year as a solo performer, Victoria has had the privilege of working with both professional violinists Ray Chen and Irina Muresanu in violin master classes, which have proven to be incredible and insightful experiences of musical growth and opportunity. She has also recently been selected as one of the few musicians to participate in the USM annual Honors Recital program which features solo performers chosen by audition. She is now currently participating and embarking on various ensemble endeavors as second violinist for the recently formed Prospero Quartet which has been giving select concerts in the greater Portland area since July, 2015. In her spare time, Victoria works and performs regularly at many local music and theater venues including Maine State Music Theater, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lyric Music Theater, Stages: Performing Arts Society, and Schoolhouse Arts Center. In the future, she plans to continue playing in the local community as a performer, instructor, and freelance musician by providing opportunities of excellence in musical growth to everyone around her.
Cameron Prescott
Cellist Cameron Prescott is a Junior Music Performance Major at the University of Southern Maine. He currently studies cello with William Rounds. His former teacher is Anne Wilkinson. At USM, he also studies piano under Anastasia Antonacos, and has recently begun jazz studies with Barry Saunders. He is the current Assistant Conductor of the USM Composers Ensemble. This past summer he formed the Prospero Quartet with fellow USM alumnus Aaron Pettengill and Victoria Hurlburt, and Senior Leigh-ashley Milne which
will give its first full concert on February 5th, 2016 at Corthell
Concert Hall.
Leigh Ashley Milne
Violist Leigh-Ashley Milne is currently in her Senior year at the USM School of Music. She spent the past four years under the tutelage of Robert Lehmann, and has studied in the past with Lauren Rioux and Julia Adams, a member of the Portland String Quartet. In the past she has had the privilege of working closely with world class musicians, from the likes of Silk Road Ensemble member (Juilliard alum) Mike Block to world-renowned, progressive violinist Darol Anger, to name only a few. She was a member of the Republic of Strings in years past. She was leader of the viola section during her participation in the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra. In her spare time, Leigh-Ashley teaches private lessons and performs regularly. She has participated in numerous USM musical theater productions. She is currently student teaching at Bonney Eagle high school. In the spring of 2015, a collegiate-formed string trio ensemble of which she was a member became recognized by audition as an outstanding chamber ensemble showcased in the USM’s Chamber Music Awards Concert. She is also a regular performer at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with the Prospero Quartet for weddings and holiday concerts. The Prospero Quartet--formed with USM alums Aaron Pettengil and Victoria Hurlburt, and Junior Performance Major Cameron Prescott--is a high priority in her musical career. Looking ahead, Leigh-Ashley plans to continue to perform, freelance, and teach--with particular interest in nurturing her growing private studio.She is looking forward to a future filled with growth and experience through enriching musical opportunities
