Viano Quartet Explained

Viano Quartet
Origin:Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre:Classical
Years Active:2015-present
Label:Opus 3 Artists
Current Members:
  • Hao Zhou
  • Lucy Wang
  • Aiden Kane
  • Tate Zawadiuk

The Viano Quartet is a Canadian-American string quartet comprising violinists Hao Zhou[1] and Lucy Wang, violist Aiden Kane, and cellist Tate Zawadiuk.

Founded in 2015 at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, the quartet has toured extensively and performed in key venues around the world,[2] including Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus Berlin, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts, since winning First Prize at the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition.[3] [4]

In their formative years, the quartet achieved notable success on the international stage, winning top prizes at various chamber music competitions including the Osaka,[5] Fischoff,[6] Wigmore Hall,[7] and ENKOR.[8]

The quartet has previously held residencies at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Colburn School, Northern Michigan University, and Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.[9] In recent years, the quartet has made appearances with numerous well-renowned musicians including Emanuel Ax, Marc-André Hamelin, Inon Barnatan, Elisso Virsaladze, Paul Coletti, Paul Neubauer, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Hila Plitmann, David Shifrin, and Roberto Díaz.[10]

The quartet is currently based in New York City, in-residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Bowers Program from 2024 to 2027.[11]

Origin of Name

"Viano" is a portmanteau.[12] According to the group, the name "Viano" symbolizes how the four individual instruments of a string quartet (with each instrument beginning with the letter "v") work harmoniously as one, like a piano, creating a "unified instrument" called the "Viano".[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hao Zhou . June 27, 2023 . Concours Musical International de Montréal.
  2. Web site: Viano Quartet . June 27, 2023 . Curtis Institute of Music.
  3. News: Littler . William . September 6, 2019 . Audience was the winner of as string quartets square off . . July 1, 2023.
  4. News: September 1, 2022 . VC Artist Viano String Quartet's Winning Performance at 2019 Banff Competition . The Violin Channel . June 27, 2023.
  5. News: May 25, 2017 . Prizes Awarded at Osaka International Chamber Music Competition . The Violin Channel . July 1, 2023.
  6. News: May 14, 2018 . Viano String Quartet Wins Silver Medal in Prestigious Fischoff Competition . . July 1, 2023.
  7. News: April 16, 2018 . The Viano Quartet Wins Third Prize in Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition . . July 1, 2023.
  8. Web site: Viano String Quartet GRAND PRIZE . July 1, 2023.
  9. Zhou . Hao . Laurie Niles . Interview: Viano String Quartet at Bravo! Vail - Staying Together Through the Pandemic . Wang . Lucy . Kane . Aiden . Zawadiuk . Tate . August 1, 2021.
  10. Web site: Concert review: Viano Quartet, Roberto Díaz (viola) . July 1, 2023 . The Strad.
  11. News: May 15, 2023 . Banff Centre Congratulates Viano Quartet on Being Selected for The Bowers Program . . June 27, 2023.
  12. News: Eichler . Jeremy . June 27, 2022 . A young quartet, a witty pianist, and the music that made Tolstoy weep . . June 27, 2023.
  13. Mike Goldberg . The Viano Quartet . PBS. March 29, 2022.