Close up photo of a violin on its back
We hear from three chamber groups who reached the semifinals of this year’s Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, including the Bronze Medal-winning Quartetto Speranza.
Many of today’s players have appeared previously on Introductions:
– Tristan Zhu most recently gave a solo recital in March 2025
– Lily Sullivan most recently appeared live in November 2024
– Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu performed with a previous Academy string quartet in November 2024
– Jan Vargas Nedvetsky most recently performed live in September 2024
– Violinist Neal Kotamarty Eisfeldt previously appeared as a chamber music violist in October 2023
– Ella Wimbiscus had a solo recital in May 2022
– Cecilia O’Malley and Callia Murray have performed together in chamber groups in December 2023 and in August 2024
– Diego Dahle featured solo in June 2025.
Neal Kotamarty Eisfeldt is also booked to perform live on Introductions twice before the end of the year: on September 13 he joins steelpan player Jaden Teague-Núñez in a duo by Jan Bach; and on December 20 Neal has his own feature violin recital.
Playlist
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in B-Flat, Op. 76, No. 4, “Sunrise”:
I. Allegro con spirito
Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80:
I. Allegro vivace assai
Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 4:
V. Finale, Allegro molto
Performed by the Caspian Quartet:
Tristan Zhu and Lily Sullivan, violins, Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, viola, Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello.
Coached by Rodolfo Vieira through the Music Institute of Chicago.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1, No. 3:
I. Allegro con brio
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67:
II. Allegro con brio
Astor Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires:
Otoño Porteño
Performed by the Minela Trio:
Neal Kotamarty Eisfeldt, violin; Ella Wimbiscus, cello; Micah Chan, piano.
Formed at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Claude Debussy: String Quartet in G minor:
III. Andantino, doucement expressif
Stacy Garrop: String Quartet No. 2, “Angels & Demons”:
III. Inner Demons
Performed by Quartetto Speranza:
Cecilia O’Malley & Alison Chung, violins; Callia Murray, viola; Diego Dahle, cello
Formed at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory.
Some music has been removed from the podcast version for copyright reasons.
