For over a decade, the musicians of the Concordia String Quartet have been delighting audiences across the globe. Now, they’re sharing their methods of success with you.

Colin Benn, Viola
Philip Boulanger, Cello

  • Founder, Cellist

    Philip Boulanger has been performing internationally since the early 2000s, including performances at the Audio Art Festival in Kraków, Poland; MusicMaynooth, Ireland; and the MusicAcoustica Festival in Beijing. Locally, he can be heard performing nearly 30 concerts a year as cellist of the Haven String Quartet. As the quartet-in-residence for Music Haven, the Haven String Quartet spearheads a nationally-recognized after school music program that provides free instruments and lessons to nearly 100 students in New Haven, CT. In addition to teaching a full cello studio, Philip helps shape and design programming in his role as Education Director at Music Haven. Philip also leads a team of musicians each summer as Music Director at Point CounterPoint, a summer music camp for advanced high school students on Lake Dunmore, Vermont.

    At Harmonia Collective, Philip is dedicated to helping organizations elevate their teamwork and performance. Philip is a passionate advocate for the power of collaboration, and has a keen eye for identifying the unique parallels between the intricate dynamics of a string quartet and the ever-shifting landscape of modern teams. Philip believes that whether in the concert hall or conference room, every team can perform at their best by connecting, listening, and being in tune with each other.

  • Violin

    Yaira Matyakubova is an Uzbek-American musician, educator, and community advocate with a distinguished career in the arts. She is dedicated to fostering artistic expression and championing the vital role of the arts in personal and community development. As a violinist with the Knights Orchestra, based in Brooklyn, NY, Yaira has toured extensively and performed at numerous prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Ravinia, and Tanglewood. She has collaborated with esteemed artists such as Natalie Merchant, Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Magos Herrera, and Emanuel Ax.

    At the age of 16, Yaira moved to the United States alone to pursue her violin studies. Her experiences as an immigrant have inspired her to work with refugee women, helping them integrate into society through music and the arts. Her commitment to social work spans over 20 years as a mentor and community organizer.

    As the Artistic Director at Music Haven, Yaira leads a team of musicians to create impactful musical experiences for communities in the Greater New Haven area.

    At Harmonia Collective, Yaira uses her background as a musician and educator to foster team building and professional growth. Her current work in string quartet playing sharpens her teamwork and collaboration skills, which she brings to the organization. Through her artistic approach, Yaira helps various organizations grow and work better together.

    Yaira holds graduate degrees from Yale University and Rice University.

  • Violin

    Gregory Tompkins is a versatile musician who regularly performs in solo, chamber and orchestral settings throughout the United States. Gregory is a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and serves as acting principal second violin of the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra, Opera Theater of Connecticut, and Orchestra New England. Gregory frequently appears in recital with his father, pipe organist Charles Tompkins. As a duo they have performed in venues including Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, Harvard Memorial Church in Cambridge, MA, and at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. From 2013 until 2024 Gregory performed as the second violinist in the Haven String Quartet and served as a member of the violin faculty and Director of Artistic Operations at Music Haven in New Haven, CT.

    As a member of Harmonia Collective, Gregory is a fervent believer in the power of communication systems to amplify organizational effectiveness. He is passionate about helping every member of a team find their voice.

  • Viola

    Colin Benn is a violist dedicated to sharing his passion for music through performance, education, and community engagement. With a Bachelor's from Juilliard and a Master's from Longy, he recently completed a Master's in Music Education at Columbia University. His diverse career includes orchestral performances across the globe, including as a member of the São Paulo Symphony, and chamber music collaborations and teaching experience that brought him to Europe and across the states.

    As a former Senior Resident Musician at Music Haven, Colin has a proven track record of developing and leading impactful music programs for young people. At Harmonia Collective, Colin leverages his deep musical background and experiences working with musicians from different cultures to find common threads and points of meaningful connection.