Chamber Music America Announces 2024 Cleveland Quartet Award

The Balourdet Quartet will undertake a concert tour under the auspices of eight chamber music presenters

Chamber Music America recently announced that one of its major prizes, the Cleveland Quartet Award, will be given to the Balourdet Quartet in 2024. As part of the award, the quartet will undertake a concert tour — with performances being hosted by presenters such as Carnegie Hall, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, and the University of Texas at Austin, among others.

Comprising Angela Bae and Justin DeFilippis (violins), Benjamin Zannoni (viola), and Russell Houston (cello), the Balourdet Quartet was formed at Rice University. The group quickly received acclaim, winning second prize at the Carl Nielsen International String Quartet Competition after only one year together.

The quartet then continued their studies with Paul Katz at the New England Conservatory. They have recently won the Grand Prize at New York’s Concert Artists Guild Competition, and have also been prizewinners at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Gold Medal winners at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Founded in 1995 in honor of the Cleveland Quartet, the award is given biennially to an emerging string quartet with the potential to establish a major career. Previous winners include VC Artist Aizuri Quartet, VC Artist Dover Quartet, and the Pacifica Quartet.

"We are beyond excited and honored to be the recipients of Chamber Music America's Cleveland Quartet award!" the quartet said. "Anyone who knows us knows how much we admire the Cleveland Quartet and it is so special to be a part of this amazing legacy!"

"Thank you so much to everyone who has been a part of our journey so far and we can’t wait to see everyone on the road!"