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

Joseph Lin 3, photo by Norikatsu Aida.jp

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:

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.