On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the Xena String Quartet of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. Xena is comprised of violinists and violists Claire Arias-Kim, Isabel Chen, and Noelle Naito; and cellist Camille Toubol. All four students are Fellows at the Academy, and the quartet is coached by Rodolfo Vieira. The quartet members have individually won local, regional, and national competitions and have participated at many music events and festivals.
Claire, Isabel, and Noelle currently study with Almita Vamos and Camille Toubol studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen. The word “Xena” comes from the main character of the television series “Xena: Warrior Princess”. The name symbolizes empowerment of women to achieve their dreams.
Xena recently won the Grand Prize at the 2019 Barnet Chamber Music Competition at the Merit School of Music, Second Prize at the 2019 Rembrandt Chamber Competition, and advanced to the finals of the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition. The quartet also advanced to the semi-finals in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.