Alumni News: September 2025
Balourdet Quartet ’22
The Seattle Chamber Music Society announced the Balourdet Quartet as its first-ever string quartet in residence, from September 2025 to May 2026. The Quartet will live and work in King County during its nine-month residency and present special community events, educational initiatives, and formal concerts. Read the announcement. The Balourdets are 2022 string quartet Fellow alumni. Their Fellowships were sponsored by George & Christine Bachrach, Peter & Susan Bachrach, Beatrice Français, and the late Dick Stephenson.
Elijah Daniel Smith ’23
Smith was appointed a Visiting Faculty in Music Composition at the Peabody Institute. In addition to his position at Peabody, Smith is Instructional Faculty and the Manager of New Music Activities at The Curtis Institute of Music. Elijah is a 2023 composition Fellow alum. His Fellowship was sponsored by Claudia & Michael Spies.
Tyler Taylor ’21
Taylor joins The Cleveland Orchestra as the Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow for a term of three years, beginning with performances of his orchestral work Permissions conducted by Welser-Möst on October 30, November 1, and November 2. “For years, I have listened to The Cleveland Orchestra’s recordings of some of the greatest orchestral works — these have undeniably shaped who I am as a composer. It will be a tremendous pleasure to witness the artistry they will bring to my music, and to share our work with the communities of Cleveland,” Taylor said. Read the press release. Tyler is a 2021 composition Fellow alum. His Fellowship was sponsored by Lorna & Jack Flynn.
Eric Tsai ’12, ’13, ’14
Tsai recently joined the Callisto Quartet as its first violinist. Since their inception in 2016, the Callisto Quartet has garnered top prizes in nearly every major international chamber music competition. Grand Prize winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and Second Prize Winners of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Callisto Quartet has also taken home prizes from the Bordeaux, Melbourne, and Wigmore Hall competitions. Eva Kennedy, founding violist of the Callisto, is also a 2013 Festival alum.
Sophie Wang ’13, ’14
In June, the Boston Symphony Orchestra announced the promotion of violinist Sophie Wang to associate concertmaster (Robert L. Beal, Enid L., and Bruce A. Beal chair, endowed in perpetuity). A BSO member since 2022, Wang also became associate concertmaster of the Boston Pops (Edward and Bertha C. Rose chair, endowed in perpetuity). Prior to joining the BSO, she was senior assistant concertmaster of the South Carolina Philharmonic and assistant principal second violin of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Her principal teachers have included Malcolm Lowe, Donald Weilerstein, Sergiu Schwartz, and William Terwilliger. Read the announcement.
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