Chesapeake Music is delighted to announce the five finalists competing in the Live Final Round of the 12th Biennial Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, which celebrates emerging, world-class chamber ensembles: Brompton Quartet, Candide Quartet, Dolphins Quartet, Synchrony Quartet, and Trio Animoso. Congratulations to each group! Following a competitive preliminary round, these five ensembles remain and will compete in person for $20,000 in cash prizes and a coveted appearance at the 41st Annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival led by Artistic Directors Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho.
Each finalist ensemble will travel to Easton, MD, to compete in the public, Live Final Round at The Ebenezer Theater at Prager Family Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The judges for this all-day event will be Catherine Cho, Robert McDonald, and Peggy Pearson. The community is invited to join in person and tickets are on sale now for the Live Final Round through our website. The event will also be available to live stream for free through Chesapeake Music’s website and The Violin Channel.
Introducing the Finalists:
The Brompton Quartet is an American-Canadian string quartet founded in August 2025 at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and members work together under the guidance of Professors Norman Fischer, Valentin Radutiu, and James Dunham. Members are Søren Lorentzen (viola), Evan Nicholson (cello), Anne-Marie Wnek (violin), and Madeleine Zarry (violin).
Now in their third year as an ensemble, the Candide Quartet is even more dedicated to sharing the camaraderie inherent in string quartet playing, as well as exploring the profound wealth of repertoire for string quartet. Group members are Chili Ekman (violin), Vanny Hu (cello), Amelia Krinke (viola), and Henry Rogers (violin).
The Dolphins Quartet is a Juilliard-trained string quartet and composer collective based in New York City, devoted to making chamber music vibrant, daring, and deeply human. Members of the group include Luke Henderson (violin), Ian Maloney (cello), Isaac Park (violin), and James Preucil (viola).
Synchrony Quartet is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to the performance of contemporary music and to fostering meaningful collaboration between performers, composers, and local communities. Members include Matthew Johnson (tenor saxophone), Haven Kahn (baritone saxophone), Philip Kleutgens (soprano saxophone), and Hudson O’Reilly (alto saxophone).
Trio Animoso derived its name from the Spanish word animoso, meaning “spirited” or “animated,” which captures the essence of this dynamic ensemble with each member bringing a captivating artistic persona. Trio Animoso is comprised of members Sophia Jean (flute), Subin Lee (harp), and Julian Seney (viola).
The Live Final Round is an all-day event (running from approximately 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and each ensemble will perform for 45 minutes, vying for top prizes supported by very generous donors who are keen to support chamber music’s rising stars of tomorrow:
Lerman Gold Prize Winner | $10,000 plus appearance at the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June 2026
Moran Silver Prize Winner | $5,000
Awards to remaining Finalists | $1,000 per ensemble
Audience Choice Prize | $1,000
“This competition is an incredible opportunity for these emerging ensembles and we are very eager to engage with them at these critical points in their performance careers,” said Executive Director David Faleris. All finalists receive critical feedback from renowned judges, led by Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho, who serve as Chesapeake Music’s Artistic Directors. Finalists also have the opportunity to gain new audiences, not just through the Live Final Round but also through a Community Concert Series that will take place on April 12, 2026. Each finalist ensemble will present a 60-minute program of their own choosing at another venue for a nearby Mid-Shore community as arranged by Chesapeake Music, sponsored in part by Talbot Arts and The Van Strum Foundation.
For tickets to the Live Final Round or additional details and information on the Competition schedule, finalist ensembles, judges, prizes, and community events, please visit ChesapeakeMusic.org.
Based in Easton, Maryland, Chesapeake Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings renowned musicians to delight, engage, and surprise today’s audiences and educate, inspire, and develop tomorrow’s. Learn more at ChesapeakeMusic.org.
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