Károly Schranz, second violinist with the Takács Quartet and one of the acclaimed ensemble's founding members, is to retire from the group on May 1. Harumi Rhodes, assistant professor of violin at University of Colorado Boulder, has been appointed to replace him. 

Schranz's career with the group spanned more than 40 years, and included many prestigious prizes, including Gramophone Chamber Awards for all three installments of a Beethoven Quartet cycle on Decca. Along with the other original members, Gabor Takács Nagy, Gábor Ormai and András Fejér; Schranz came to Boulder in 1986 when the Takács Quartet became artists-in-residence at the CU College of Music. In the following decades, the quartet would go on to develop a prolific international career, touring throughout the world.

Today the members of the quartet are Geraldine Walther, viola, Edward Dusinberre, first violin and Andras Fejér, cello. 'Károly brought extraordinary abilities to the group,' they said jointly. 'We were all inspired by his lively, characterful playing and imaginative approach to music.' Schranz plans to continue an active career as a chamber musician and teacher.

As colleagues at the University of Colorado, the members of the Takács quartet have had a number of opportunities to play with Rhodes, his replacement, in different combinations. In the summer of 2016, she performed with the quartet at the Ravinia Festival and for Austin Chamber Music. An avid supporter of contemporary music, Rhodes has been actively involved in commissioning and premiering new works.

Schranz's final concerts with the group will take place on April 29 and 30 in Boulder; Rhodes will join the quartet for the second half of these concerts, performing Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. She will be fulfilling all of the quartet's engagements from then onwards. 'Immersing myself in a life of string quartet playing is a dream come true,' Rhodes said. 'I have been a fan of the Takács Quartet for as long as I can remember. It is with great excitement that I join Ed, Geri, and András in taking the quartet's vision into the future.'