This Chamber Connect installment features the Junior Division winners from the 2020 Coltman Competition. Join us Saturday at 8 PM on YouTube Premieres to hear fantastic musicianship from across the country, with music by Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and more. If you have a Google or YouTube account, you can join our live chat while watching the performance. If you do not have an account, you can still enjoy the video and view the comment feed.
Visit the YouTube Premieres page now to request a reminder for Saturday evening; otherwise, just mark your calendar for this Saturday, May 2 at 8 PM CT.
In order of appearance:
2nd Place: Dajj String Quartet
Worthington, OH
Repertoire
- Joseph Haydn: String Quartet No. 31 in B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1; IV. Finale: Presto
- Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73; III. Allegro non troppo
The Dajj Quartet formed in 2015 at the Chamber Music Connection by Artistic Director Deborah Price. Dajj consists of Anna Linder and Mathais Koo, violins, Kate Fornshell, cello, and Julian Tugaoen, viola. Prizes include 2019 WDAV YCMC 1st Place & Audience Prize, 2019 OSTA First Prize, 2018 Saint Paul Gold Medal and Haydn Prize, 2018 Coltman Bronze Medal, 2018 M-Prize and 2018/2019 Fischoff Semi-finalists, 2017 Discover Grand Prize, 2017 Saint Paul Bronze Medal. Dajj has worked with Jinjoo Cho, Dmitry Kouzov, Peter Salaff, Erika Eckert, Hayley Wolfe, Dover, Calidore, KASA, Hausmann, Doric, St. Lawrence, and Harlem Quartets.
2nd Place: Quantum Sextet
Carrollton, TX
Repertoire:
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70; IV. Allegro vivace
- Chris Evan Hass: Volcanic Ash
Formed in the summer of 2019 in Carrollton, Texas, the Quantum Sextet consists of Ekdev Rajkitkul, GianCarlo Lay, Brandon Sanchez, Austin Dreyer, Jason Hamdan, and Peyton Joffre. Members of the group have received many honors, including first prizes in the 4th Edition of the ENKOR International Music Chamber Music Competition, 1st place at 6th Annual Coltman Chamber Music Competition, 2nd place in the 46th Annual Fischoff Competition, various top finishes in the Houston Underground Saxophone Competition (Junior Division and High School Division), Texas All-State Band placement, and more. Quantum Sextet attends Hebron High School.
1st Place: Kaza String Quartet
Boston, MA
Repertoire:
- Joseph Haydn: String Quartet No. 67 in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2; I. Allegro moderato
- Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major, Op. 92; I. Allegro sostenuto
The Kaza Quartet was formed in September of 2019 as part of the Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar (CHIPS) at New England Conservatory Prep. Individually, each study with chamber musicians, namely Mai Motobuchi (Borromeo Quartet), Jonathan Ong (Verona Quartet), Mickey Katz, and Paul Biss. Having studied with and performed in masterclasses with experienced chamber musicians, Kaza strives to play at a professional level. Though the ensemble has only been together for a short while, sharing musical experiences comes naturally, making the CHIPS program one of our most memorable, and fulfilling, artistic experiences to date.
1st Place and Junior Division Grand Prize: Quid Nunc Saxophone Quartet
San Antonio, TX
Repertoire:
- William Albright: Fantasy Etudes; II. Pypes
- David Maslanka: Recitation Book; V. Fanfare/Variations on “Durch Adams Fall”
Quid Nunc Saxophone Quartet formed in the winter of 2013 and has been a leading advocate and competitor in the chamber music community ever since. QNSQ has won the top prize at the Coltman Chamber Music Competition (2017 & 2018), the Houston Underground Saxophone Quartet Competition (2016, 2017, 2018), Texas Public Radio’s “Sounds Like KPAC” Competition (2015, 2016, 2018), and was named a quarterfinalist in the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions. In 2015 QNSQ performed as a feature group at the 69th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, premiering two new works for saxophone quartet. Members of Quid Nunc attend Ronald Reagan High School.