Formed in January 2024 from a group of students and alumni from the University of Maine, the Dirigo Quartet is one of only a handful of permanent string quartets in the state of Maine. Its members have performed as principals in the University of Maine Orchestra and the Downeast Chamber Orchestra and have served as teachers or directors at local studios and schools. The group has also attended coaching sessions and masterclasses with faculty at the University of Maine School of Performing Arts and professional string quartets like the Beo String Quartet and DaPonte String Quartet.
In addition to giving private concerts around Maine, the Dirigo Quartet has been employed to perform at a number of private events at the University of Maine, including for the University of Maine President at the Buchanan Alumni House. They have also performed at venues around Penobscot County, including Minsky Recital Hall, Zillman Art Museum, and Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono, where they helped raise money and awareness for the Maine Multicultural Center as part of the church’s Music With a Mission Series.
The Dirigo Quartet has performed compositions in a range of styles and genres. Their repertoire spans classical to modern contexts with works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Villa-Lobos, among others. They have also performed pieces from local contemporary composers like Benjamin Walker and find particular enjoyment in sharing music written by living composers that witness and interpret the joys, challenges, and afflictions of the present day.
The word “Dirigo” (latin for “I lead”) appears on the Maine state seal and on signs and landmarks across the state. It is a reminder to remain rooted in the local context, but it also carries musical meaning that transcends dividing lines. In a string quartet, each member takes a turn leading the group as an equal. There is no permanent hierarchy, no winner or loser—there is only giving and receiving in pursuit of a common goal. Viewed in this way, “Dirigo” is much more than a motto or a name. It is the substance that binds us together—epitomizing the hope of unity for diverse audiences across Maine and beyond.
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William Somes, Violin
William Somes is a graduate student and staff member at the University of Maine, where he is currently pursuing a master's degree in violin performance. He holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors in political science and economics from the University of Maine and a graduate certificate in environmental resource policy from George Washington University. William began learning Suzuki violin at the age of seven and has studied under career performers and educators such as Lynn Brubaker, Sascha Zaburdaeva-Lorimer, Stewart Kitts, and Anatole Wieck. His professional experiences include masterclasses and coaching sessions with faculty at the School of Performing Arts and string quartets like the Beo String Quartet and DaPonte String Quartet. He regularly plays as concertmaster with local community ensembles including the Downeast Chamber Orchestra and the pit orchestra for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. William has taught instrumental music in public and private schools in Washington, D.C. as a member of the Music Kids Teaching Faculty and has also managed a private studio at Music Junction in Alachua County, FL. William is a founding member of the Dirigo Quartet.
Abigail York, Violin
Abigail began studying violin at the age of eight. She received instruction from a number of private teachers in New York and Washington, D.C. before her family settled in Maine. There, she continued private study with Sascha Zaburdaeva-Lorimer at RDL Strings in Bangor.
Abigail was an active member of the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra throughout high school, where she also served as a mentor for young musicians in the Prelude Orchestra. It was through this program that she first discovered a love for chamber music. During those years, she was selected to perform in the Maine All-State Music Festival for four consecutive seasons and shared her passion by teaching violin at Bangor Christian School. While pursuing pre-nursing studies at Southeastern University, she remained actively involved in music, performing with both the university orchestra and string quartet in 2015.
In 2017, Abigail shifted professional focus to emergency medicine, earning an EMT license from Eastern Maine Community College. Following a career in emergency response, fire services, and dispatch, Abigail reconnected with her musical roots in 2023, finding fresh inspiration through playing with her church's worship team. In early 2025, she resumed teaching violin lessons in her private studio, Community Strings. She is now thrilled to be a member of the Dirigo Quartet, where she continues to deepen her engagement with classical music and chamber performance.
Taylor Clark, Viola
Taylor Clark started her musical training at the age of seven when she began taking private violin lessons at RDL Strings in downtown Bangor, ME. She continued her studies through high school and into college, where she pursued her interests in fashion business, theatre, and music at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Taylor's musical journey continued with orchestra and pit band performances. She also studied music abroad while attending the University of Glasgow in Scotland for one semester. Taylor has participated in many smaller orchestras and ensemble groups since then, including the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra.
After graduating college, Taylor transitioned into education and assumed the role of Director of Performing Arts at a prestigious private school, where she honed her leadership and organizational skills by teaching music theory and theatre studies. Taylor is also an entrepreneur, composer, and arranger, releasing her own music under the artist name “DARKT”. She became a founding member of the Dirigo String Quartet in January of 2024.
Luiz Gonçalves da Silva, Cello
Luiz Gonçalves da Silva is one of the founding members and cellist of the Dirigo Quartet. He began his music studies at a young age. Since then, he has performed nationally and internationally, participating in many music festivals and masterclasses in the United States, South America, and Europe. Luiz has studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he earned his Merit Certificate in Cello Performance. He also studied at the University of Maine, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Performance with Noreen Silver as a mentor. At the University of Maine, Luiz has participated in many chamber music ensembles, including string quartets, piano trios, a variety of duos, musicals, and more.