Violinist Joshua Brown has been praised by audiences and critics worldwide for his “richness of sound, elegance of reading… commitment of every moment at the service of the work…” (La Libre). He was awarded a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant and gained international attention after winning second prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. As the recipient of a 2025 CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Prize, Joshua is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild. Joshua was first recognized for his debut performance with the Cleveland Orchestra and has gone on to perform regularly with orchestras around the world, including the Munich Radio Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Civic Orchestra, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, among others, continually garnering praise from critics. A passionate recitalist and chamber musician, he also regularly appears in recital performances and takes part in chamber music festivals. Joshua will perform with the KU Symphony Orchestra (KUSO), the premier orchestral organization at the KU School of Music conducted by Director of Orchestral Activities Creston Herron. KUSO provides performance majors with the highest quality preparation for a professional career in orchestral playing. KUSO offers a comprehensive course of orchestral studies and performs repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the 21st century, including premieres of new works. In addition to large-scale symphonic programming, each season includes performances of major solo works featuring faculty, student and leading international guest artists, including Blake Pouliot, PROJECT Trio, Tiempo Libre, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Joshua Roman, Simone Porter and Xavier Foley, to name a few.

Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today’s most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). They are currently the ensemble-in-residence at the Colburn School—where they formed in 2022—and study with Jonathan Brown, Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith and Fabio Bidini. Most recently, Trio Azura was named a winner of the 2025 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and appointed YCA Jacobs Fellows, becoming the organization’s first ensemble-in-residence. Trio Azura consists of Canadian violinist Duncan McDougall, South Korean cellist Yejin Hong and Chinese pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai. Although they come from different backgrounds, their unique perspectives are a constant source of inspiration. In 2024, the Trio won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice Prize and the Horszowski Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. They are also prize winners at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in Harbin, China.

The New York Philharmonic String Quartet comprises four principal musicians from the Philharmonic: Concertmaster Frank Huang (The Charles E. Culpeper Chair), Principal Second Violin Qianqian Li, Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps (The Mr. and Mrs. Frederick P. Rose Chair) and Principal Cello Carter Brey (The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Chair). The group was formed in January 2017 during the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season. The New York Philharmonic String Quartet made its debut as the solo ensemble in John Adams’s Absolute Jest in New York in March 2017 and reprised the work on the orchestra’s 2017 European spring tour. All four members are multiple-prize winners, have appeared as concerto soloists with the Philharmonic and orchestras around the world, and have appeared frequently in the Philharmonic’s chamber music series at David Geffen Hall and Merkin Concert Hall.