Biava Quartet

Winner of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, Astral Artist National Auditions, and top prizes at the Premio Borciani and London International Competitions, the Biava Quartet — Austin Hartman and Hyunsu Ko, violins; Mary Persin, viola; Gwendolyn Krosnick, cello — established an enthusiastic following in the United States and abroad, impressing audiences with its sensitive artistry and communicative powers. Formed in 1998 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Quartet took its name from Maestro Luis Biava, a mentor since its inception.

The Quartet most recently held the Lisa Arnhold Quartet Residency at the Juilliard School, serving as graduate quartet in residence and teaching assistants to the Juilliard Quartet. The Quartet served in the same position with the Tokyo Quartet at Yale University and was the first ensemble to complete the Training Program in the Art of the String Quartet at the New England Conservatory under the direction of Paul Katz.

The Biava Quartet performed to acclaim in important venues throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Baroque Art Hall in Seoul. Highlights from recent seasons included appearances at the Chautauqua Institution; the Mostly Mozart, Rockport, Kingston, and Aspen Music Festivals in the U.S.; and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan.

Dedicated to the creation and performance of contemporary works (in addition to performing established classical repertoire), the Quartet has championed music of American composers Mason Bates, William Bolcom, Kenji Bunch, John Harbison, Ezra Laderman, Kevin Puts, and Stacy Garrop.

The Biava Quartet recorded for Naxos and Cedille (performing Stacy Garrop’s String Quartet No. 2, “Demons and Angels” on Composers in the Loft, CDR 90000 100) and has been heard on London’s BBC Radio 3, National Public Radio, American Public Media’s Performance Today, and other national broadcasts. The Quartet was featured in Strings and Strad magazines and has been the subject of a PBS documentary film.

After twelve celebrated seasons and many accolades, the group concluded its public performances in June 2010. Stacy Garrop’s String Quartet No. 3, “Gaia” was the Biava Quartet’s final recording.