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Masterful Strings: Nisaika 2.0- String Quartet Reunion with Friends

A collage of four headshots featuring Violaine Melançon, David Salness, Peter Stumpf and Ed Gazouleas.

Masterful Strings: Nisaika 2.0- String Quartet Reunion with Friends

Arts for All | College of Arts and Humanities | School of Music | The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Monday, February 2, 2026 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Gildenhorn Recital Hall

About the Event

Violaine Melançon, violin
David Salness, violin
Peter Stumpf, cello
Ed Gazouleas, viola

Described by Strad Magazine as being, “vigorous, extrovert and emphatic players with a vitality all their own,” the Nisaika Quartet’s origins go back to the 1980s at the Curtis Institute of Music. Four chamber-music-hungry friends and classmates, coached by Karen Tuttle and Felix Galimir, went on to win Deuxième Prix at the 8e Concours International de Quatuors à Cordes, a moment described as one of the greatest adventures of their musical lives. After finishing their undergraduate studies, this group of tenacious young musicians went their separate ways to pursue graduate and job opportunities, but always found themselves connected through the years. Now, after more than four decades and four illustrious careers as performers and pedagogues, the Nisaika Quartet reunites for a very special performance, featuring works by Webern, Beethoven, Puccini and Brahms.

Program

Anton Webern: Langsamer Satz
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74, "Harp"
Giacomo Puccini: Crisantemi
Johannes Brahms: Sextet in G Major, Op. 36 with Katherine Murdock, viola and Eric Kutz, cello

Add to Calendar 02/02/26 20:00:00 02/02/26 21:30:00 America/New_York Masterful Strings: Nisaika 2.0- String Quartet Reunion with Friends

About the Event

Violaine Melançon, violin
David Salness, violin
Peter Stumpf, cello
Ed Gazouleas, viola

Described by Strad Magazine as being, “vigorous, extrovert and emphatic players with a vitality all their own,” the Nisaika Quartet’s origins go back to the 1980s at the Curtis Institute of Music. Four chamber-music-hungry friends and classmates, coached by Karen Tuttle and Felix Galimir, went on to win Deuxième Prix at the 8e Concours International de Quatuors à Cordes, a moment described as one of the greatest adventures of their musical lives. After finishing their undergraduate studies, this group of tenacious young musicians went their separate ways to pursue graduate and job opportunities, but always found themselves connected through the years. Now, after more than four decades and four illustrious careers as performers and pedagogues, the Nisaika Quartet reunites for a very special performance, featuring works by Webern, Beethoven, Puccini and Brahms.

Program

Anton Webern: Langsamer Satz
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74, "Harp"
Giacomo Puccini: Crisantemi
Johannes Brahms: Sextet in G Major, Op. 36 with Katherine Murdock, viola and Eric Kutz, cello

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Cost

Free, no tickets required.