About Us
ALTA is a close-knit collective of string players who share a deep curiosity about chamber music. Rooted in the tradition of the string quartet but open to new collaborations and formats, the ensemble brings together musicians who approach repertoire with care and a strong sense of shared work.
Core members Gabryel Smith, Ken Hashimoto, and Emily Bookwalter have performed together for over a decade. First as co-founders of the SORA Quartet, and later as co-founders of ALTA Quartet, they developed a deeply collaborative and rigorous approach to the study and performance of string quartet repertoire.
Over time, this partnership expanded beyond the traditional quartet model. ALTA now operates as a flexible collective, bringing together a rotating group of trusted collaborators to explore projects ranging from the classical quartet canon to newly commissioned works and cross-ensemble partnerships.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, ALTA performs across the city’s vibrant music community—from established cultural institutions to intimate neighborhood stages. The ensemble has appeared at venues including Roulette Intermedium, the Knickerbocker Club, Kentler International Drawing Space, Owl Music Parlor, Jalopy Theatre, and many other meaningful spaces. ALTA maintains an ongoing artistic collaboration with Michael Bates’s Acrobat quintet, joining forces in performances of improvisatory music by and around Bates, Shostakovich, Lutosławski, Hindemith, and other living and past composers.
Meet the Musicians
Shawn Barnett
Shawn Barnett, a freelance violinist and violist based in New York City, is celebrated for his dynamic performances and dedication to music education. With extensive experience performing orchestral, chamber, and solo concerts, he has captivated audiences across the United States and Europe. In addition to his passion for performance, Barnett maintains a thriving teaching studio, where he inspires and nurtures the next generation of musicians. His approach combines technical expertise with a deep appreciation for musical expression, engaging students of all ages. Through his performances and teaching, Barnett aspires to make a positive impact on the vibrant New York music scene whenever possible.
Emily Bookwalter
Emily Bookwalter is a violist in New York City praised for her “elegantly rendered” (The New York Times) and “masterful” interpretation (I Care If You Listen) of contemporary repertoire. She is the violist on David Byrne’s 2025 album, Who Is the Sky, and was a soloist—alongside ALTA co-founder Ken Hashimoto—on the world premiere recording of Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti’s with eyes the color of time, a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist, featured on the String Orchestra of Brooklyn’s album enfolding. Emily also has a habit of saying yes to unusual projects: performing and modeling for launches at Coach (1941) and Harry Winston, debuting a mushroom burial suit during New York Fashion Week, appearing in a GMC Acadia commercial, and recording for Beat Circus, the Ghost Train Orchestra, Chet Lam, Boy Girl Party, Shouthouse, Alex Goldberg, and others. She plays and sings across New York City, from Carnegie Hall to dive bars, and is Director of Development at Roulette Intermedium in Downtown Brooklyn.
Ken Hashimoto
Ken Hashimoto began playing cello when he was very small. He spent time as a cello performance major at Peabody Conservatory and the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, but after a detour through the physics department, he eventually graduated with degrees in history and international relations. After college he moved to Los Angeles, where, while working as a teacher and in education nonprofits, he freelanced as a bassist and cellist with pop/rock bands and singer-songwriters. Hashimoto took a three-year break from playing music while working in Bosnia-Hercegovina on an international development project. He moved to New York City and earned a law degree, and also resumed playing with bands at venues such as Symphony Space, Carnegie Hall, Bowery Ballroom, Joe’s Pub, and Mass MOCA. Inspired by his older daughter’s cello studies, Hashimoto returned to playing classical music in chamber groups and orchestras such as the Greenwich Village Orchestra, the New York Repertory Orchestra, the String Orchestra of Brooklyn, and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony.
Rachel Hauser (emeritus)
Rachel Hauser is a violinist and violist based in New York City. She studied at the New England Conservatory, the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her principal teachers included David Perry, Masuko Ushioda, Richard Wolfe, and Louise Behrend. Rachel spent ten years in Madison as a tenured member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, performing regularly with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, where she served as Principal Second Violin, and where she co-founded the Willy Street Chamber Players. Since returning to her hometown of New York, she has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, Bargemusic’s Here and Now series, Roulette, the Queens Library Concert Series, and the Composers Voice series at the Firehouse Space. She is an experienced fundraiser, general manager, and leader in the arts.
Marandi Hostetter
Marandi Hostetter has been working as a freelance violinist and violist in New York City for the past 17 years. Being from an ardently musical household, her experience and influences range from all corners all over the world. Since 2011, she has been deeply involved in Arabic music, performing with artists and ensembles including the New York Arabic Orchestra, National Arab Orchestra, and The Bil Afrah Project featuring Michel Merhej. She is a co-founder of Brooklyn Maqam. Marandi has recorded and toured with Natalie Merchant since 2014, recorded with Weird Al and studied with masters such as Anthony Doheny, Cynthia Baehr, Simon Shaheen, Beth Bahia Cohen and Ross Daly. She has participated in numerous chamber music workshops since she was a teenager, including the SoCal Chamber Music Workshop, Manhattan String Quartet Workshop, and Scherzo Cultural Chamber Music Workshops. She is especially drawn to repertoire that invites thoughtful interpretation and dialogue among the players. Whether returning to classical foundations or tackling more demanding repertoire, Marandi values collaboration, challenge, and the joy of collective discovery.
Quyen Le
Quyen Le is a violinist and lawyer based in London, with ongoing musical ties to New York. As a musician, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to ensemble playing across chamber, orchestral, and contemporary settings, with performances in orchestras and chamber ensembles across the globe, and recent recording credits on Samuel R. Saffery’s 2024 release “The Heart of It.” Alongside her musical work, she has built an international legal career and currently serves at Macquarie Group as Head of Employee Relations, Americas (interim), after several years leading employee relations across EMEA. She holds an LL.M. from New York University and an LL.B. with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney.
Gabryel Smith
Gabryel Smith is a violinist, archivist, and music historian based in New York City. An active freelance violinist since 2009, he performs regularly in chamber and orchestral settings. He holds a dual degree in Violin Performance and History from New York University, where he studied with Stephanie Chase, and an MA in American History and Archives from NYU's Gallatin School. He serves as Director of Archives and Exhibitions for the New York Philharmonic, where he has curated more than 50 public programs and exhibitions in New York and internationally, and he also teaches on the extension faculty at The Juilliard School.