Career
The Berkshire String Quartet was founded when music patroness Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge persuaded to move his quartet from Chicago to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where its members could focus exclusively on chamber music was an owner of several fine violins, including: In 1914: a Joseph Guarnerius violin, once the property of the Crown Treasurer of Spain. And Period of ownership unknown: Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, 1739c From 1925 to 1957: a 1698 Stradivarius violin, once owned by Joseph Joachim was a key figure in organizing the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival founded by Coolidge. The original Berkshire String Quartet disbanded sometime after 1941.