Comprised of members from China, Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, VC Artist Galvin Cello Quartet won the silver medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed shortly by winning the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster.

Cellists Sihao He, Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli met as students at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music in the studio of pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Named after Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Bienen, the Galvin Cello Quartet began during the height of the pandemic. Their story is a testament to the power of teamwork and exceeds all expectations of traditional chamber music. 

As part of a tight-knit cello studio at Bienen, the four friends wanted to channel their collective passion for music instilled in them by Jensen. But with pandemic restrictions in place, the school running virtually, and Venturelli back home in Brazil, performing as a string quartet was not possible. Despite these challenges, the four cellists decided to enter the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. 

The quartet has recently made its debut at Merkin Hall in New York City, where The Violin Channel praised them as "an exhilarating new ensemble and thrilling concert experience.” 

Several upcoming engagements for this season include Newport Classical, Chicago’s WFMT, Ravinia Festival, Market Square Concerts, and a southeastern United States tour across cities in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. 

Through its music, the Galvin Cello Quartet hopes to celebrate and convey the values of friendship, creativity, and resilience in an ever-changing world.