While you may not recognize the name Vitamin String Quartet immediately, there is a good chance that you know some of their music.
The string quartet has grown tremendously in popularity over the last few years, partly due to their involvement in the soundtrack of the television show “Bridgerton” and the release of their Taylor Swift and Christmas album. The group will be performing at the Brooks Center for Performing Arts on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
The Tiger had the opportunity to speak with Derek Stein and James Curtiss of VSQ prior to their performance to learn more about the unique musical group.
When asked about the origin of VSQ, Curtiss did his best to tell a long story short. “The project started as more of a studio project, a subsidiary of SMH Label Group and Vitamin Records.” It all started as a way to make classical music more accessible through studio albums under the umbrella of Vitamin String Quartet.
It’s no shock that Clemson students in 2025 aren’t particularly familiar with strings or classical music, but VSQ is no ordinary string quartet.
Stein, who has been with the group for 12 years, shared that “Vitamin String Quartet can definitely open the door to exploring other genres of music.” Stein shared that on the most recent tour the audience has notably skewed younger.
“During our meet and greets, they come and tell us that our show is their first concert,” Stein said, “and I think if a young person is interested in music, listening to or hearing Vitamin String Quartet will definitely expand their horizons.”
The soundtrack for “Bridgerton” really launched the success of VSQ and has shaped their career trajectory for the last couple of years.
“The ‘Bridgerton’ thing has sort of opened the doors for a lot of stuff that happened in a major way. There’s all the touring we’ve done, we’ve put out a Christmas album.” Curtiss said. “It was our first time collaborating with a major label, so I mean, it’s amazing, and I think some of us at the label knew it would be a big thing.”
Stein also shared words of advice for those who are seeking careers in the arts. “I would start as young as possible and if it’s something that you’re serious about, you have to devote as much time as possible. You have to be prepared for a lot of rejection and a lot of things not going your way. The harder you work and persevere through those things, the more likely it is that you’re going to have a career that is successful as far as not just personally but also financially.”
As Vitamin String Quartet is known for its unique renditions of pop songs, I was curious about how they curate their setlists and choose what songs to cover. Their current tour is branded as “The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton, and Beyond,” so the shows are heavy on music from those sources, but there’s still something for everyone. The setlist includes hits from every decade since the 1970s.
Curtiss and Stein strive for the audience to have an “aha moment” when they recognize a song. “You got creative peaks and valleys and a kind of dramatic narrative. You want big roaring roller coaster moments, but you also want sort of blushful and romantic moments.”
Derek shared with The Tiger that VSQ ends each set with a crowd-pleasing sing-along, claiming that it’s his favorite part of the show. He wouldn’t divulge what song that is, though — you’ll have to see for yourself on Friday!
