CIM's Omer Quartet Captures Fischoff Grand Prize Medal

May 14, 2013

CLEVELAND, OHIO – 05-14-2013 -  The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is proud to announce that the OMER STRING QUARTET has won the coveted 2013 Fischoff National Chamber Competition’s Grand Prize and Gold Medal in the Senior String Division. Over the course of three days, 48 ensembles representing more than two dozen countries competed. Quartet members violinists Mason Yu (student of Joel Smirnoff and Ivan Zenaty) and Erica Tursi (student of William Preucil), Joseph Locicero (viola student of Lynne Ramsey, Kirsten Docter and Jeffrey Irvine) and Alexander Cox (cello student of Melissa Kraut) will participate in a Winner’s Tour of the Midwestern United States this fall.

The quartet is coached jointly by members of the Cavani Quartet, in residence at CIM, and Peter Salaff, CIM’s chairman of string and piano chamber music. The Omer Quartet was appointed Apprentice Quartet for 2012-2013 season and serves as the Outreach Quartet for the Cleveland Chamber Music Society, under the mentorship of Annie Fullard, first violinist of the Cavani Quartet. The Omer follows in the footsteps of CIM alumni award-winning quartets including the Linden, Miro , Biava, Maia and Aeolus quartets.

“We are very honored and excited to have been chosen as the Grand Prize Award winners at the prestigious Fischoff Competition,” said cellist Alexander Cox. “It was an exhilarating experience to be surrounded by such a high level of ensemble artistry. We are proud to represent CIM and very grateful for the support of our coaches, teachers and friends.”

“On behalf of my colleagues in the Cavani Quartet and Peter Salaff, we are elated that the wonderful performances and tremendous work of the Omer Quartet this past weekend earned them such fantastic honors,” said Annie Fullard. “The Fischoff Competition is very special , and these awards will offer the Omer Quartet amazing opportunities to continue sharing their beautiful musical spirit with the world.”

Now in its fortieth year, The Fischoff Competition is the largest chamber music competition in the world and attracts the finest young instrumentalists from across the country and around the globe to the campus of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

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