Celebrated Artist-Teacher String Series

Linda Wang, Artistic Director

The Celebrated Artist-Teacher String Series (CATS) brings together a unique, world-class series of celebrated artists-teachers from university music schools across the nation. Collaboration with Lamont faculty and outstanding students provides exceptional opportunities for exciting, professional and inspired chamber music performances.

2022-23 Season

  • Nancy Zhou, violin

    Performance and Masterclass: Nancy Zhou, violin

    Friday, November 18, 2:30 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    

    Free admission to observe

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  • Simon James

    Masterclass: Simon James, violin

    Friday, January 13, 2:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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  • Judith Ingólfsson, violin

    Masterclass: Judith Ingólfsson, violin

    Friday, February 17, 3:30 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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  • Leila Josefowicz, violin

    Masterclass: Leila Josefowicz, violin

    Tuesday, March 23
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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  • Julio Elizalde

    Masterclass: Julio Elizalde, chamber music

    Thursday, April 6, 2:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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  • Sandy Yamamoto, violin

    Masterclass: Sandy Yamamoto, violin

    Friday, April 7, 1:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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  • Julio

    Recital: Sandy Yamamoto, Julio Elizalde, Igor Pikayzen, Matthew Zalkind

    Saturday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    $12, free for students

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  • David Requiro

    Masterclass: David Requiro, cello  

    Wednesday, April 19, 12:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall
    Free admission to observe

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  • James Ehnes

    Masterclass: James Ehnes, violin

    Thursday, April 20, 5:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

  • Meta Weiss

    Masterclass: Meta Weiss, cello

    Wednesday, May 3, 12:00 p.m.
    Hamilton Recital Hall    
    Free admission to observe

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Performance Highlights

Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence, op. 70

Alexander Kerr was a guest artist at Lamont in the Fall of 2017, as part of the Celebrated Artist-Teacher String series (CATS). At the Convocation held on October 6, 2017, he performed side-by-side with Lamont students.

Mendelssohn: Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20

Glenn Dicterow and Karen Dreyfus were guest artists at Lamont in the Fall of 2015, as part of the Celebrated Artist-Teacher String series (CATS). At the Convocation held on October 9, 2015, they performed side-by-side with other Lamont faculty members.

Previous CATS Artists

2015-16
Glenn Dicterow, violin (Concertmaster, New York Philharmonic) 
Karen Dreyfus, viola
Edward Arron, cello
Jeewon Park, cello
Brian Lewis, violin
Hong-Mei Xiao, viola

2016-17
Timothy Eddy, cello (Orion String Quartet, Juilliard)
Andres Cardenes, violin (Concertmaster, Pittsburgh Symphony) 
Harlem String Quartet
Aspen String Trio
Sheila Browne, viola (Serafin String Quartet) 
Keng-Yuen Tseng, violin (Peabody) 
Ivo Van der Werff, viola (Medici String Quartet, Rice) 

2017-2018
Alexander Kerr, violin (Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony) 
Miriam Fried, violin (New England Conservatory)
Ira Gold, double bass (National Symphony)
Carol Roland, viola (Juilliard) 
Amir Eldan, cello (Oberlin) 
Natasha Brodsky, cello (Juilliard)
Roger Tapping, viola (Juilliard)
Paul Sharpe, double bass (UNC) 
Sigurbjorn Bernhardsson, violin (Pacifica Quartet) 
Geri Walter, viola (
Takács Quartet) 
Stephen Miahky, violin (Blair Quartet) 

2018-19
Melissa Kraut, cello
Lynn Harrell, cello
Calidore String Quartet
Sigurbjorn Bernhardsson, violin (Pacifica Quartet) 

Julio Elizalde, piano
Turtle Island Quartet
Brant Taylor, cello (Chicago Symphony) 
Danwen Jiang, violin (ASU) 
Roger Meyer, viola
Margaret Batjer, violin (Concertmaster, LA Chamber Orchestra)
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Tetzlaff-Tetzlaff-Vogt Trio

Geraldine Walther, viola (Takács Quartet) 
Eugene Drucker, violin (Emerson Quartet)
Nicolas Kitchen, violin (Borromeo String Quartet)

2019-2020
James Dunham, viola (Rice, Cleveland Quartet)
Sheryl Staples (Associate Concertmaster, NY Philharmonic)

Horacio Contreras (Chicago Music Institute)
Danish String Quartet

Timothy Pitts bass and Kathleen Winkler violin (Rice)
Richard O’Neill (
Takács Quartet)
Alan Rafferty (Cincinnati Symphony)
James Stern (University of Maryland)
Masumi Per Rostad, viola (Eastman)

2020-2021
Pamela Frank, violin Curtis
Richard Aaron, cello (Juilliard)
Gil Shaham, violin
Aaron Berofsky, violin (University of Michigan)
Grigory Kalinovsky, violin (Indiana University)
Guðný Guðmundsdóttir, violin (Concertmaster, Iceland Symphony)

2021-2022
Midori, violin
Dimitry Berlinsky, violin
Calidore Quartet
Kronos Quartet

  • Leila Josefowicz

    Leila Josefowicz, violin

  • Danish String Quartet

    Danish String Quartet

  • Lynn Harrell, cello

    Lynn Harrell, cello

  • Gil Shaham, violin

    Gil Shaham, violin

  • Kronos Quartet

    Kronos Quartet

  • Midori, violin

    Midori, violin

  • Richard Aaron, cello

    Richard Aaron, cello

  • Augustin Hadelich, violin

    Augustin Hadelich, violin

  • Pacifica Quartet

    Pacifica Quartet