Colossalcon Prime 2024 Spotlight: Triforce Quartet

I had the pleasure of attending Colossalcon Prime in Sandusky, Ohio earlier this month. And while the event has a strong anime focus, there were still several attractions for Zelda lovers, with one of the most notable bring the Triforce Quartet concert. The quartet comprises Matthew Evans and Jacob Roege on violin, Stanley Beckwith on viola, and Chad Schwartz on cello. Schwartz is also the arranger and founder of the crew. 

I spoke with them briefly before their Saturday show, and their humor and inviting demeanors translate seamlessly to the stage. They delivered a warm atmosphere, inviting everyone to sit on the floor to chill and enjoy themselves, even if they couldn’t find a seat. The quartet promised the audience that we didn’t have to clap politely like at symphonies, but rather we could act like the excited nerds we all are. “We’ve seen you all out there in the hallways,” Schwartz joked.

The hallways at conventions truly are a unique environment.

 

The Zelda Dungeon team had the pleasure of previewing the Triforce Quartet’s third album, Minuet of Time, in 2019. Since then, they group has released their fourth album, Quadforce. During their set, Schwartz quipped on the irony of their band’s name — the mismatch of the three parts of the Triforce but four parts of a string quartet. They rectified this with the clever naming of their most recent record — and a funny April Fool’s post on social media.

During the show, the quartet told the story of how their fame began. It was all because of a brief Zelda medley Schwartz created in 2006, which became viral. Since its inception, the arrangement has nearly tripled in length into an even more triumphant homage to the series’ legacy. The group played the expanded medley during the show, including nods to Tears of the Kingdom. It was single-handedly the best Zelda musical tribute I’ve heard live outside the legendary Symphony of the Goddesses. The quartet also played an incredible mashup of Epona’s theme and the “Stable (feat. The Stable Trotters)” song from Tears of the Kingdom. Hearing the nostalgic tune woven with its modern sibling was a delightful surprise.

Despite their name, Triforce Quartet play classical video game arrangements outside of Zelda too, playing bops from Banjo Kazooie, Mario Kart, Undertale, and Final Fantasy, among others.

Check out Triforce Quartet on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Spotify, and listen to Quadforce, featuring renditions of “Kass’ Theme” and Ocarina of Time’s “Kakariko Village.”

If you want to find Triforce Quartet near you, check out their upcoming tour dates. On September 5th, 2024, they will appear at Colossalcon East at the Kalahari Resorts Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania. They have also played at other notable events, including MAGFest, DragonCon, Momocon, and iDIG Music Festival.

I have seen Triforce Quartet several times before at MAGFests. Every year, their power and confidence improve dramatically. If you’re attending a video game or anime convention, keep your eyes peeled on the programming to see if they’re nearby. You don’t want to miss them.

Have you seen Triforce Quartet before or heard any of their albums? Let us know if you make your way to see them, and let us know your favorite tracks below!

Source: Triforce Quartet, Colossalcon Prime

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