Prizes Awarded at 2020 Fischoff Online National Chamber Music Competition

The Balourdet Quartet has been awarded 1st prize in the Senior Strings Division at the 47th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition

The Rice University Shepherd School of Music-based Balourdet Quartet has this week been awarded 1st prize in the Senior Strings Division at the 47th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition – in South Bend, Indiana, United States.

Comprising violinists Justin DeFilippis and Angela Jiye Bae, violist Benjamin Zannoni and cellist Russell Houston, the ensemble will receive US $3,500 – plus a number of important performance opportunities.

Hosted by the University of Notre Dame, this year's category prizes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were awarded based on the performance videos submitted by the entrants.

2nd and 3rd prizes in the Senior Strings Division were awarded to the Trio Rouge and Quantum Clarinet Trio.

1st prize in the Junior Strings Division was awarded to the Phillips Trio.

2nd and 3rd prizes in the Junior Strings Division were awarded to the Dasani String Quartet and Arcturus Trio.

This year’s Senior Strings Division jury comprised: violinist Ani Kavafian, violist Daniel Avshalomov, cellist Norman Fischer and pianist Seth Knopp.

This year’s Junior String jury comprised: violinist Rebecca McFaul, cellist Anthony Arnone and pianist Elinor Freer.

Since its founding in 1973, more than 6,600 musicians have participated in the annual competition – including former Grand Prize recipients VC Artists Calidore Quartet and the Dover Quartet.