Classical Music News

VC Artist Aizuri Quartet Announces Plan to Disband

March 5, 2025

2 MIN READ

After thirteen years, the quartet's players have decided to pursue their own individual careers

The Aizuri Quartet, which comprises violinists Emma Frucht and Miho Saegusa, violist Brian Hong, and
cellist Caleb van der Swaagh, announced that it will disband at the end of April 2025 — thirteen years after it was founded.

The group will give a farewell recital on April 25, 2025, at the Broadway Presbyterian Church in New York City, with all proceeds benefiting the homeless and hungry through Broadway Community.

Throughout its thirteen years, the Aizuri Quartet has been highly committed to contemporary music. The group gave the world premiere performances of a large number of works, including Jennifer Higdon’s Azure Waves, written especially for the quartet in celebration of the Buffalo Chamber Music Society’s 100th Anniversary Season.

Further world premieres include Layale Chaker’s Matrescence, David Serkin Ludwig’s Organistrum, Lembit Beecher’s These Are Not Estonian Flowers, Paul Wiancko’s Purple Antelope Sound Squeeze, and Michi Wiancko’s Murasaki’s Moon.

The group has also released two successful recordings. Blueprinting (2019), which featured works by Lembit Beecher, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Caroline Shaw, Gabriella Smith, and Paul Wiancko, was nominated for a GRAMMY Award.

The 2023 disc Earthdrawn Skies album explored the interplay between humankind and the natural world through music by Hildegard von Bingen, Eleanor Alberga, Komitas Vartabed, and Jean Sibelius.

"After 13 years together, it is with heavy hearts that we announce that we will be disbanding the Aizuri Quartet at the end of this concert season," the group said in a statement. "It has been a joyful and momentous journey making music together, and we are proud of all the wide-ranging programs and projects that we have shared with audiences over the years."

"Throughout all of the Quartet’s iterations, we have remained committed to the group’s mission of community, collaboration, and curiosity, and we continue to celebrate this legacy in each of our individual careers. Although this chapter of our lives may be coming to a close, all four of us look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation because of the powerful impact that this quartet has had on our lives and the music world."

"To all of our cherished friends, family, and collaborators, thank you for your continued support. We truly could not have done it without each and every one of you, and we will be forever grateful. We can’t wait to share our new musical chapters with you all!"