Having recently emerged as one of the world’s most promising young violists, David Aaron Carpenter was born in New York in 1986 into a musical family. He began his musical studies on the violin at six and later on the viola at the age of 11. He continued to pursue both instruments at the pre-college divisions of the Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music in New York. In addition, he studied with world-renowned viola pedagogues Yuri Bashmet, Roberto Diaz, Nobuko Imai, and Pinchas Zukerman. In 2005, Mr. Carpenter was the First Prize winner of the Greenfield Young Artists Competition and in 2006 he won the highly coveted First Prize at the Walter E. Naumburg Viola Competition. David Aaron Carpenter was presented with the Presidential Gold Medal at a performance in Washington’s Kennedy Center subsequent to his winning the first ever Gold Award from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA). In June 2007, he became the first American and the youngest protégé for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative with mentor Pinchas Zukerman. In June 2008, David Aaron Carpenter recorded the Elgar Cello Concerto (arr. Lionel Tertis) and the Schnittke Viola Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London under Maestro Christoph Eschenbach. In addition to having become an accomplished musician, David Aaron Carpenter has obtained his degree in Political Science from Princeton University.

He has been acclaimed by the New York Times as producing "a seductively rich sound and demonstrating both a forceful interpretive personality and remarkable control of his instrument" and by The Strad Magazine as a violist "whose beautiful modulated tone makes a striking impression." Since making his orchestral debut in 2005 with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach, David Aaron Carpenter has been performing with leading musicians and orchestras in the United States and Europe. In 2008, he stepped in at the last minute to replace Maxim Vengerov for performances of Benjamin Yusupov's Viola, Tango, Rock Concerto with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland. He has performed in the United States at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Chicago’s Krannert Center, San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre, among others. As a chamber musician, Mr. Carpenter has performed together with artists such as Emanuel Ax, Sarah Chang, Leonidas Kavakos and Johannes Moser. He also performs regularly at the prestigious Verbier Music Festival in Switzerland together with, among others, Lang Lang, Vadim Repin and Misha Maisky.

Further information can be found at his website: davidaaroncarpenter.com

Julien Quentin

French pianist Julien Quentin has established himself as a versatile and sensitive musician, exhibiting great maturity and poise. His remarkable depth of musicianship and distinct clarity of sound coupled with flawless technique, make him an artist in demand as both soloist and chamber musician.

He has made successful recital debuts in Paris (Salle Cortot), Geneva Conservatoire Hall and Bargemusic in New York. He has appeared as soloist with the Wroclaw Philharmonic, Córdoba Philharmonic Orchestra and the Indiana University Concert Orchestra under such conductors as Tommaso Placidi, Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, Paul Biss and Jens Troester. Invited to numerous international Festivals, Quentin’s appearances in Europe include Verbier, Lucerne, Gstaad, Zermatt, Schwetzingen, Ludwigsburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Radio France Montpellier, Saint Denis and Harrogate.

A regular performer in North America, he has appeared at the Virginia Arts, Ventura and Shandelee Festivals in the United States. He has broadcast in Canada, United States, Japan and in countries across Europe.

Julien Quentin is a keen chamber musician and has collaborated with artists such Nicola Benedetti, David Aaron Carpenter, Corey Cerovsek, David Garrett, Ilya Gringolts, Johannes Moser, Lawrence Power, Alexandra Soumm, Sayaka Shoji, Tatjana Vassiljeva and Alisa Weilerstein. Touring internationally in America, Australia, Japan, the Middle East and throughout Europe, he has appeared at the Wigmore Hall in London, the Louvre in Paris, Alice Tully, Steinway and Carnegie Hall in New York. With Julian Bliss, he recorded his Debut recital of music for clarinet and piano for EMI Classics.

He also performed on the harpsichord, appearing in concert with Sarah Chang and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, as well as with Thomas Quasthoff and under the baton of Leonidas Kavakos.

During the 2008-2009 season, solo and chamber music engagements will bring him to Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Switzerland and through the United States (including Weill and Zankel Hall in New York).

Born in Paris in 1974, Julien Quentin started his studies at the Geneva Conservatory with Alexis Golovine. In 2002, he completed his Artist Diploma under the tutelage of Emile Naoumoff at Indiana University, where he held a one-year teaching position as Assistant Instructor and was a recipient of the Presser Award. In 2003, he received his Graduate Diploma from the Juilliard School, where he studied with György Sándor. He has also worked with Paul Badura-Skoda, Nikita Magaloff, György Sebök, and Earl Wild.

Julien Quentin now lives in Berlin. He also pursues his interest in other genres of music through his collaboration with composer Justin Messina, pianists Francesco Schlimé and Rami Khalifé, or producer Martin Wheeler in projects ranging from improvisation to producing electronic music.