Two Bienen School student ensembles have been invited to the 46th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. The ensembles advanced through a video audition round and will compete in the live competition May 10-12 at the University of Notre Dame. 

Fuse Quartet – master’s saxophone students Caleb Carpenter, Joe Connor, Chris Forbes, and Julian Velasco – will compete in the senior winds/brass division of the competition. The quartet previously won first place in the Music Teachers National Association state and regional chamber music competitions. All quartet members study with Taimur Sullivan.

Galvin Trio will compete in the senior strings/piano division of the Fischoff Competition. Members include Nanao Yamada, a doctoral violin student of Gerardo Ribeiro; Nansong Huang, a doctoral piano performance and pedagogy student of James Giles; and Jasmine Pai, a cello student of Hans Jørgen Jensen.  The ensemble is coached by Desirée Ruhstrat. 

The Fischoff Competition is the nation’s largest chamber music competition. Each year, an average of 125 ensembles, representing 22 nationalities, enter in either the wind or string categories of three to six performers. Since its founding, more than 6,800 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education.

In 2017, Bienen saxophone quartet ~Nois won the silver medal in the Fischoff Competition’s senior wind division.