Concert Artists Guild Names The Cerus Quartet Winners of Louis and Susan Meisel Competition

The Cerus Quartet will receive international management, debut performances in London and New York, and a range of other opportunities

Founded in 1951 and based in New York City, the Concert Artists Guild (CAG) has supported the careers of more than 500 emerging musicians. Its annual competition is open to musicians under 35, and offers a platform for national and international career development.

The 2025 CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Competition winners are the Cerus Quartet, an all-saxophone ensemble. They receive a multi-year management contract with CAG, a New York debut performance, career mentorship, and the opportunity to participate in "citizen musician training" — which includes a career bootcamp and a community impact project incubator.

The Cerus Quartet comprises Roberto Campa (soprano saxophone), Laura Ramsay (alto), Kyle Kato (tenor), and Samuel Dishon (baritone). They have already amassed a number of distinctions, including the gold medal in the 2025 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, First Prize in the 2024 MTNA National Chamber Music Competition, and First Prize and the Michigan Prize in the 2023 Briggs Chamber Music Competition.

The ensemble is committed to new music, and it has a particular goal of championing repertoire by composers of diverse backgrounds. To this end, it has premiered new works by Karalyn Schubring, Jennifer Higdon, and Joey Karz, and will soon premiere a further piece by Ryan Lindveit.

"We are unbelievably excited (and still very much in shock!) to announce that last night in NYC we were named the winner of the 2025 CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Competition!" the quartet wrote on social media. "This means so much to us and it is a big moment in saxophone history that we’re so proud to be a part of, being only the 4th saxophone quartet to be added to the CAG roster. Once we fully process this we’ll be excited to share more, but for now…we are basking in the reality that dreams really can come true. We are so incredibly excited for this journey."

"Thank you so much to CAG for believing in us and the saxophone, and thank you to everyone who has helped and guided us along the way. Our hope is that this recognition can inspire the current and future generations and encourage them to keep contributing their talents to the greater world of classical music. We’re just getting started!"