The Viano String Quartet Joins the Prestigious Roster of Opus 3 Artists

The Viano Quartet, the Colburn Conservatory’s ensemble in residence, has joined the prestigious roster of Opus 3 Artists. An industry leader, Opus 3 manages the careers and touring activities of many of the world’s most sought-after performing artists and ensembles, including Yo-Yo Ma, Marin Alsop, and Emanuel Ax.

The Viano String Quartet (Lucy Wang, violin; Hao Zhou, violin; Aiden Kane, viola; Tate Zawadiuk, cello) formed at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in 2015 and was named ensemble in residence in 2019. As ensemble in residence, the quartet worked closely with Colburn faculty in coachings and lessons and benefitted from performance opportunities during the two-year graduate program. “Each year we have studied at Colburn, our teachers have helped open new doors for us, both musically and professionally. We would not be here without their mentorship and dedication,” the Viano Quartet shared in an email.

In recent years, the quartet has garnered praise, won top competitions, and performed across the United States and internationally. Recognized for their “huge range of dynamics, massive sound and spontaneity” (American Record Guide), the quartet won first prize at the prestigious 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition, which led to concert tours of major markets in Europe and North America.

Prior to joining Opus 3, the Viano String Quartet was represented by Colburn Artists, an innovative in-house management program at Colburn for students on the cusp of professional careers.

Led for many years by Laura Liepins, a 25-year veteran artist manager and former vice president of Opus 3 Artists, the Colburn Artists program is designed to provide guidance and support during the critical transition from studying to touring by preparing students to work with industry leaders and artist managers.

“From the moment we joined Colburn Artists, Laura treated us as professional musicians,” the quartet wrote. “Her drive, confidence, and creativity inspired us to explore outside of our comfort zones and were invaluable in our journey to finding our artistic voice.”

Since the 2020 COVID lockdown, the Viano String Quartet has been actively presenting virtual and socially distanced live concerts for various organizations, including the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Friends of Chamber Music of Troy, Salt Lake Chamber Music Society, Dallas Chamber Music Society, Schneider Series at the New School, and the Banff International String Quartet Festival.

With their colleagues in the Calidore String Quartet, they presented a movement of the Mendelssohn Octet, filmed entirely remotely at locations across the United States and Canada for the film The Way Forward, premiering on April 29. As part of the Banff International String Quartet Competition prize, the quartet is in residence at the Meadows School of Music at the Southern Methodist University through the 2022–23 season.

During 2020, the Viano was also featured in the Colburn Artists online recital series, dedicated to the memory of Laura Liepins and celebrating the many young musicians and ensembles she guided into spectacular professional careers. Past Colburn Artists include Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot, also on the Opus 3 roster; Calidore String Quartet, on the IMG Artists roster; Rodolfo Leone and William Hagen on the MKI Artists roster.