Every year, the music department examines a large number of musical groups, from which a select few are then invited to campus interviews. The interview process involves giving a short recital, working with student chamber music groups, and collaborating with Harvard composers, Rehding said.

"The Parker Quartet was just very impressive on all fronts," Rehding said about the group’s interview last spring.

Remarking on the students he interacted with, Chong added, “we found [them] to be incredibly bright and incredibly talented.”

This year also marks a change in the way the Quartet-in-Residence at Harvard functions, Rehding said. Whereas in previous years, groups came to campus for one-week intervals twice each semester, this year the quartet will be on campus for virtually the entire fall semester. Despite the success of prior Quartets-in-Residence, Rehding said, they simply were not able to become fully integrated into the community because of the structure of the program.

Once at Harvard, the Parker Quartet will assist student chamber music groups and classes, in addition to performing in four concerts. The group will also be at Harvard on Friday, Oct. 18 to perform in the “Music in Time” Concert.