Promoting young artists since 1973
Meet the Omega Ensemble
Since 1973, The Omega Ensemble has been a major supporter of young artists in New York City, Long Island, and the New England area. In 1978, Doris Konig, pianist, became the Artistic Director. Since that time, Omega has presented 211 extraordinary artists, 28 of who have been awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant Award and have been given significant exposure and support at the beginning of their careers.
Many of these artists have become Concertmasters of such orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chicago symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. Several have become Principal Cellists of orchestras such as the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Others have become members of major string quartets including the Juilliard, Emerson and Orion String Quartets. Many have won major competitions around the world (see Alumni Page.)
"It doesn't get any better than this."
Michael Tree, The Guarneri String Quartet
Presenting and Supporting the
Next Generation of World Class Artists
“...the Cleveland Orchestra first became interested in me as a candidate for their principal cello position after watching and hearing a few of my performances with the Omega Ensemble... The Omega Ensemble can offer young artists exposure that is critical to their ultimate success.”
— Mark Kosower, Principal Cellist, Cleveland Orchestra
“One of the first opportunities I had after graduating from Juilliard was performing with Omega and getting paid for it! I am so grateful that Omega hired me, which was an important part of the beginning of my career, as it was for many artists who now have very successful careers in the music world.”
— Frank Huang, Violinist, Concertmaster New York Philharmonic
“These collaborations and performance opportunities were an important part of my development, as they have been for countless other young musicians over the past 37 years.”
— Joseph Lin, First Violinist, Juilliard String Quartet, 2011–2018
“The Omega Ensemble is an oasis to our fatigued, weary souls. Although your mission is to help young artists, your music also helps to mend and lift our spirits. Many blessings to you Omega!”
-A Friend of Omega
Kevin Zhu
Daniel Hass
Jeremiah Blacklow
The mission of the Omega Ensemble is to present extraordinary young string players who have already received recognition but still need financial support and exposure. They are presented in concerts, performing both solo and in chamber music with piano. The pianists who are chosen have significant experience performing chamber music, which creates an ideal performance opportunity for the string players.
Alumni Honorees
A Unique and Extraordinary Aspect of the Omega Ensemble is that we have presented eight artists over the years that now have spectacular positions in the greater music world. Additionally we have subsequently chosen these artists to be honorees at our annual Benefit at the Racquet and Tennis Club. These Artists performed between 1991 and 2009.
Ayano Ninomiya
Violinist, Winner of the Walter Naumburg International Competition
Frank Huang
Violinist, Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
David Kim
Violinist, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Joseph Lin
Violinist, First Violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet
2011-2018
Axel Strauss
Violinist, Guest Concertmaster at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark Kosower
Cellist, Principal Cellist of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Drucker
Violinist, First Violinist of the Emerson String Quartet
Timothy Eddy
Original Cellist of the Omega Ensemble, Founding member of the Orion String Quartet
Additional Distinguished Alumni
Robert Chen
Violinist, Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Rafael Figueroa
Cellist, Principal Cellist of the Metropolitan Opera
Erin Keefe
Violinist, Concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra
Frank Almond
Violinist, Concertmaster Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Efe Baltacigil
Cellist, Principal Cellist Seattle Symphony
Please See Alumni Page For Additional Omega Alumni
Past Concerts:
Season Opening Concert
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
6:30 PM
The Kosziusco Foundation at the Van Alen Mansion
6:30 PM Reception
7 PM Concert
with
Nathan Meltzer, violin
Bethany Bobbs, cello
Maxim Lando, piano
Program:
BRAHMS
Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100
I. Allegro amabile
II. Andante tranquilo - Vivace
III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante)
PROKOFIEV
Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 119
I. Andante grave
II. Moderato
III. Allegro, ma non troppo
BEETHOVEN
Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 “Archduke”
III. Andante cantabile, ma però con moto
IV. Allegro moderato
Spring 2024
Sunday, MAY 19TH, 2024, 3 PM
FREE ADMISSION
SPRING CONCERT
The Rogers Memorial Library
91 Coopers Farm Road
Southampton, NY 11968
with
Jeremiah Blacklow, violin
Sebastian Stoger, cello
Maxim Lando, piano
Program
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847): Piano Trio in D minor, Opus 49
I. Molto Allegro Agitato
II. Andante con moto tranquillo
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856): Adagio and Allegro, op. 70
George GERSHWIN (1898-1937): “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess
(transcription by Heifetz/Goodman/Stoger)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827): Sonata No. 7 in C minor for Violin and Piano, Opus 30 No. 2 I.
Allegro con Brio
IV. Finale; Allegro; Presto
A VALENTINE CONCERT
Monday, February 5th, 2024
The Kosciuszko Foundation
at the Van Alen Mansion
15 East 65th Street
6:30 PM Champagne Reception
7 PM Concert
Tickets:
Benefactor $100 • Patron $75 • Regular $50
with
Ayano Ninomiya, violin
and
Kevin Zhu, violin
Daniel Hass, cello
Yannick Rafalimanana
Program
Works by Ysaÿe, Debussy, Rachminoff
October 18th, 2023
7 PM
The Kosciuszko Foundation
at the Van Alen Mansion
15 East 65th Street
6:30 PM Champagne Reception
7 PM Concert | Tickets: $50
Artists:
Kevin Zhu, violin, Zlatomir Fung, cello, David Fung, piano
Program:
BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio Op. 70 No. 1 in D Major
I. Allegro vivace e con brio
III. Presto
TCHAIKOVSKY: Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26, for violin and piano
Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34, for violin and piano
Rococo Variations, for cello and piano
50th Anniversary Concert, February 13, 2023
When:
6:00-8:30 PM
Where:
The Kosciuszko Foundation
15 East 65th Street, New York City
Artists:
Kevin Zhu, violin
Sebastian Stoger, cello
Yannick Rafalimanana, piano
Program:
Schubert: Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 99 for Piano, Violin and Cello
I. Allegro moderato
II.Andante un poco mosso
Dvorak: Silent Woods “Klid” in D-flat Major, Op. 68
For Cello and Piano
Chopin: Polonaise Brillante in C-Major, Op. 3 transcribed for Cello and Piano by Maurice Gendron
Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 - 5, WoO 1 transcribed for Violin and Piano by Joachim
I. Allegro molto
II. Allegro non assai – Vivace
III. Allegretto
IV. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
V. Allegro – Vivace
Chopin: Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat Major for Violin and Piano transcribed by Sarasate
Aritistic Honoree: Ayano Ninomiya
Ayano Ninomiya, a major violinist, will be our Honoree again this season, as she was unable to attend last February due to the Covid-19 virus and therefore we did not have the pleasure of hearing her play. We are certain that our audience will be delighted that we will have this opportunity. She is the winner of numerous prizes including the Walter Naumburg International Competition, Tibor Varga International Competition, Astral Artists National Auditions, Young Performers Career Advancement, and Lili Boulanger awards, has performed with orchestras across the U.S., Switzerland, Bulgaria, and most recently in Carnegie Hall. Praised for her "deeply communicative and engrossing" (The New York Times) performances, she has performed at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Moab, Bowdoin, Kingston, Adams (New Zealand), Canberra International (Australia), and Prussia Cove (England) festivals. She has been featured on Musicians from Marlboro tours in the U.S. and France, and gave a TEDx talk in 2012 at the University of Tokyo. She was first violinist of the Ying Quartet and was Associate Professor at the Eastman School of Music until 2015 when she joined the violin faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. As a recipient of the Beebe Fellowship, Ayano studied in Budapest, Hungary, at the Liszt Academy after graduating from Harvard University and The Juilliard School. Ayano performed with Omega from 2004 to 2009.