The Ciompi Quartet Portfolio Project began in the summer of 2020 as a way for the Quartet to engage with composers in Duke Music’s graduate program during the COVID-19 pandemic, when live performances were curtailed and composers and performers needed creative outlets for their music.

The success of the initial project inspired the Ciompi Quartet to make it a permanent part of their annual programing, expanding it in 2026 to also include graduate students from UNC Greensboro.