Fischoff Chamber Music Academy Ensemble Wins Top Honor at Statewide Competition

Notre Dame, IN (April 14, 2026) – The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is pleased to announce that the BEAR Quartet, an ensemble in the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy, won first place at the 36th Annual Chamber Music Festival & Competition presented by the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MASTA). The competition took place on March 2, 2026, at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

The BEAR Quartet includes students from St. Joseph High School: Tyler J., violin; Seth M., violin; Owen W., viola; and Ryan L., cello. The ensemble is coached by Steve Reed, supported by St. Joseph High School’s orchestra director, Burke Lokey.

Hosted by the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, the annual MASTA Chamber Music Festival & Competition brings together talented student ensembles from across the state for a day of performances, coaching sessions, and adjudication by professional musicians and educators. The event provides young string players in grades 7–12 with an opportunity to refine their ensemble skills and perform major chamber repertoire in a competitive setting.

The BEAR Quartet was formed in 2025 through Fischoff’s Chamber Music Academy, a year-long (September–June) pre-college program for junior high and high school students. Each year, string, piano, woodwind, brass, and mixed ensembles of three to six musicians in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan are selected to participate in a cohort of like-minded individuals seeking specialized classical music education. Students receive 8–12 professional coaching sessions per Academy year, competition preparation, and community outreach opportunities, while participating in masterclasses, workshops, and annual public performances.

Ryan, the cellist of the BEAR Quartet, stated, “Participating in the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy this year has been a great experience for me as a musician and as a person. We met and learned from many amazing groups, like the Verona or the Katarina String Quartets, who helped us build our bonds as quartet members and hone several new skills.”

Ensemble coach Steve Reed remarked, “Chamber music is the most challenging and highest form of music for any serious musician. Everyone is a soloist! Chamber musicians must communicate nonverbally as a team to pull off technically sound and musical performances. The BEAR Quartet from St. Joseph High School performed well beyond their years as the winners of the MASTA [Michigan American String Teachers Association] Chamber Music Competition. It was my privilege to be their coach on the beautiful and expressive Florence Price String Quartet.”

Josh Aerie, Fischoff Executive Director, stated, “Congratulations to the BEAR Quartet! Tyler, Seth, Owen, and Ryan embody Fischoff’s longstanding commitment to excellence, education, and community engagement through the power of collaborative music-making. The Fischoff Chamber Music Academy’s mission to inspire the next generation of chamber musicians is alive and well, thanks to ensembles like the BEAR Quartet.”

Megan Simmons, Fischoff Chamber Music Academy Director, added, “It is incredibly rewarding to see the BEAR Quartet’s dedication and collaborative spirit recognized at the state level. Opportunities like the MASTA Competition allow our students to apply what they learn through the Academy’s coaching, masterclasses, and performances, and we are so proud of the musical growth they have demonstrated this year.”

To learn more about Fischoff’s Chamber Music Academy, visit: https://www.fischoff.org/education/fischoff-chamber-music-academy/