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Aizuri Quartet (virtual)

Praised by The Washington Post for ā€œcaptivatingā€ performances that draw from its notable ā€œmeld of intellect, technique and emotions,ā€ the Aizuri Quartet was awarded the Grand Prize and the CAG Management Prize at the 2018 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, along with top prizes at the 2017 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Japan, and the 2015 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition in London.  The Quartetā€™s debut album, Blueprinting, featuring new works written for the Aizuri Quartet by five American composers, was released by New Amsterdam Records and nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY Award. 

Through its engaging and thought-provoking programs, branded by The New York Times as ā€œgenuinely excitingā€ and ā€œimaginative,ā€ the Quartet has garnered critical acclaim for bringing ā€œa technical bravado and emotional powerā€ to bold new commissions, and for its ā€œflawlessā€ (San Diego Union-Tribune) performances of the great masterpieces of the past.

The Quartet has performed extensively throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Japan, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Abu Dhabi, and has commissioned and premiered new works by Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw, Lembit Beecher, Paul Wiancko, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Gabriella Smith, Rene Orth, Michi Wiancko, and Alyssa Weinberg.  Their 20-21 season highlights include performances at Lincoln Center, San Antonio Chamber Music Society, National Gallery, Dallas Chamber Music Society, the Kennedy Center and a special performance of John Adamsā€™ ā€œAbsolute Jestā€ with the Milwaukee Symphony.

The quartet has been combining four distinctive musical personalities into a unique collective since 2012. Aizuri Quartet draws its name from ā€œaizuri-e,ā€ a style of predominantly blue Japanese woodblock printing that is noted for its vibrancy and incredible detail. They are currently based in New York City.