About quartetCR

Founded in 2023, QuartetCR is comprised entirely of students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with like- minded ambitions in the professional music world. In our short tenure together, we have been recognized at the international level, with a 5th place ranking in the International Trombone Association Quartet Competition. We share the common goal of wanting to reach as many people as we can with our music.

Nate Berry

Nate Berry is an internationally recognized soloist and musician who is deeply dedicated to the passion of music making, and relaying composers' visions through his performance. He is passionate about the advancement of Brass Chamber Music, and as founder of Music in the Gardens, collaboration with the Gardens of Golden Gate Park.

As a student of Tim Higgins, and winner of the International Trombone Festival Gilberto Gagliardi Solo Competition, he can be seen performing in the Bay Area with the Oakland Symphony, Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, Mercury Soul, and The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. He has also performed with the Indiana Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra Indiana, Evansville Philharmonic, Evansville Ballet Orchestra, Columbus Philharmonic, and the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.

Nate recently moved to the Bay Area from Indiana, where he received a B.M. in Trombone Performance. He is currently pursuing a M.M. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Ned Harlan

Ned Harlan is a tenor trombonist currently based in San Francisco. He is completing a Bachelor's Degree in Trombone Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studies with Timothy Higgins and Paul Welcomer. He held the position of Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2021-22 season, and has been accepted to Eastern Music Festival, Domaine Forget, the National Brass Ensemble Academy, and the Pokorny Seminar. Ned is originally from Salem, Oregon, where he studied with Carson Keeble and Matt Polacek. In his spare time, he enjoys trail running, open water swimming, and reading.

Austin Talbot

Bay Area trombonist Austin Talbot is committed to performing music to faithfully communicate composers' visions. He has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, the Sacramento Philharmonic, and the Sacramento Opera. Throughout the summer of 2023, he performed with the Roudtop Festival Orchestra.

In addition, Austin has performed at Michael Mulcahy's international trombone seminar at Northwestern University and Gene Pokorny's low brass seminar at Northern Illinois University. Austin has also found success as a multi-year finalist of the American Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition of which he was named winner in 2024. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Timothy Higgins.

Shane Stewart

With a primary focus on the bass trombone, Shane Stewart has cultivated his musical expertise through dedicated study and performance. Shane received his Bachelor's Degree from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in 2022. Currently, he is furthering his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in pursuit of a Master's Degree. Throughtout his career, Shane as garnered numerous accolades, including being named the Runner-Up in the 2019 ITA George Roberts Bass Trombone Solo Competition and in the 2021 New Zealand International Brass Competition. Additionally, Shane was awarded a fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival and School in both 2019 and 2023. Shane is an active freelancer, having performed with groups such as the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera.