Jupiter String Quartet wins first prize in 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition

This evening, the Jupiter String Quartet from Boston, Mass. was awarded First Prize in the RBC Awards during the 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition at The Banff Centre. Following six days of juried concerts focused on classical, romantic, and 20th/21st century repertoire, the winner was chosen from a group of ten of the world’s most accomplished young string quartets.

The First Prize package of the RBC Awards includes a prize of $20,000 (CND), a Canadian recital tour arranged by The Banff Centre, a quartet of custom bows by renowned bow maker Michael Vann, and the offer of a Banff Centre residency, including the production of a promotional CD.

The evening’s other RBC Award winners include:

• Second Prize ($12,000) — Ensō Quartet, Houston, Tx.
• Third Prize ($8,000) — Royal String Quartet, Warsaw, Poland
• Fourth Prize ($5,000) — Fry Street Quartet, Logan, Ut.
• Székely Prize ($3,000 awarded for the best performance of a Beethoven quartet from rounds one and two of the competition) — Jupiter String Quartet
• Pièce de concert Prize ($2,000 awarded for the best performance of the Pièce de concert — Stewart Grant’s String Quartet No. 2, Banff Variations, commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) — Ensō Quartet

The Melba and Orville Rollefson Memorial Prize is an award of $10,000, generously donated by one of BISQC’s returning audience members, divided between the six quartets not placing in the finals.

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Jupiter String Quartet (Boston, Massachusetts)

Nelson Lee, violin
Meg Freivogel, violin
Liz Freivogel, viola
Dan McDonough, cello

Formed in Cleveland in 2001, the Boston-based Jupiter Quartet has performed across the United States and abroad. In 2004, they received Second Prize at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, and have performed in some of the world’s most spectacular chamber music halls, including London’s Wigmore Hall and Boston’s Jordan Hall. Upcoming concerts include a recital at Weill Hall in New York City, and at the Corcoran Gallery in DC.

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Created in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Banff Centre, the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) is recognized as one of the world’s leading international music competitions. The competition is open to quartets of all nationalities whose members are all under the age of 35.

The Banff International String Quartet Competition is generously supported by RBC Financial Group.

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Further information on BISQC and bios of all participating quartets.

Performance and publicity photographs.

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