Inspired by the quartet’s ground-breaking collaborations with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, The Ethos Percussion Group, the success of their highly acclaimed CD, “Klap ‘Ur Handz,” commissions of new works by Pulitzer-Prize winning composer Paul Moravec , Giovanni Sollima, and Daniel Bernard Roumain(DBR), the LARK has embarked on a bold new venture, The LARK Quarte+ Friends.

With the quartet at its core, LARK has embraced it's collaborative energy for new programming to include a permanent roster of friends. These bold new programs showcase Stephen Salters (baritone), Yousif Sheronick (percussion) as well as guest artists Jeremy Denk and Gary Graffman (piano); every concert offers audiences new insights into the art of chamber music. The various programs reach a broad range of styles that feature elements of World Music from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, Jazz, Minimalism, and Traditional Western Chamber Music.

The LARK has always been very active and committed to commissioning and premiering new music. Many of these works have become mainstays of the chamber music repertoire and include: Qt. No. 1 Musica celestis and Qt. No.2 Musica instrumentalis(1997 Pulitzer Prize) by Aaron Jay Kernis, Qt. No.2 In memoriam and Piano Quintet No.2, by Peter Schickele, "A Poet's Dream, by Jennifer Higdon, Early That Summer, by Julia Wolfe and Viaggio in Italia, by Giovanni Sollima. Upcoming commissions include William Bolcom’s “Billy of the Darbies” for Baritone and String Quartet and a new work for string quartet and percussion by Glen Velez.