Professional String Quartet Training Program

Intensive training and coaching for exceptional groups that show the talent and commitment necessary to pursue a concert career.

Two-year residency with frequent access to master teacher Paul Katz
Daily group rehearsals
Performances and masterclasses in the community
Top-quality training in all aspects of musicianship and career development
NEC’s professional certificate in the art of string quartet playing plus NEC degree or diploma

This specialized course, normally for two years of study, is intended for existing string quartets that are selected by audition. It is not available to other individuals or groups. Each students in the program will receive a full tuition waiver and a living stipend for each semester he or she is in residence for full-time study.

Read a Strings magazine profile of Paul Katz's work with this program.

Past and present quartets in this program:

Kuss Quartet:
(2002 graduates: Jana Kuss and Oliver Wille, violin; William Coleman, viola; Felix M. Nickel, cello)

—first prize, Premio Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition (2002)

Biava Quartet:
(2004 graduates: Austin Hartman and Hyunsu Ko, violin; Mary Persin, viola; Jacob Braun, cello)

—top prizes, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competiton (2001)
—top prizes, 55th Annual Coleman National Chamber Music Competiton (2003)
—first prize, Naumburg Chamber Music Competition (2003)
—top prizes, Young Concert Artists International Auditions (2002, 2003)
—third prize, the 9th Annual London International String Competition (2003)
—top prize, Premio Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition (2005)

Jupiter Quartet:
(2006 graduates: Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel, violin; Liz Freivogel, viola; Daniel McDonough, cello)

—first prize, Banff International String Quartet Competition (2004)
—grand prize, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (2004)
—first prize, Young Concert Artists International Auditions (2005)
—winner, Cleveland Quartet Award from Chamber Music America (2006)
—also winners of Jerome L. Greene Foundation Prize, the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society Prize, the La Jolla Music Society Prize, and the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Prize

Parker Quartet:
(2008 (expected): Daniel Chong and Karen Kim, violin; Jessica Bodner, viola; Kee-hyun Kim, cello)

—grand prize and the Mozart prize, Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition (2005)
—winner, Concert Artists Guild Competition (2005)
—second prize, Young Concert Artists International Auditions (2005)

Ariel Quartet:
(entering fall 2008: Gershon Gerchikov and Alexandra Kazovsky, violin; Sergey Tarashchansky, viola; Amit Even-Tov, cello)