Distinguished by its virtuosity, probing musical insight, and impassioned, fiery performances, the Ariel Quartet has garnered critical praise worldwide over the span of nearly two decades. Formed in Israel as teenagers at the Jerusalem Academy Middle School of Music and Dance and celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2020-21, the Ariel was named recipient of the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, granted by Chamber Music America in recognition of artistic achievement and career support. The ensemble serves as the Faculty Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where they direct the chamber-music program and present a concert series in addition to maintaining a busy touring schedule in the United States and abroad.

Concert Program

• • Lena Auerbach: Quartet No. 10 “Frozen Dreams”
  • Shostakovich: Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83
  • Antonín Dvorák: Quartet in F major, Op. 96 “American”

Our Performers

Alexandra Kazovsky

Originally from Moscow, Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky began playing the violin at the age of six under the guidance of the late Victor Legoshin. Two years later, her family immigrated to Israel where she continued her studies with Ludmila Feldman at the Rubin Conservatory and the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem. As she continued her work in Israel, and then eventually in the United States, she has received ongoing scholarship support from both the Veron Foundation (since 1993) and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (since 1997). Ms. Kazovsky is a graduate of the "Young Musicians Unit" (now the David Goldmann Programme for young artists) of the Jerusalem Music Centre.

In addition to her extensive performance experience with the Ariel Quartet, Ms. Kazovsky has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Yad Harif Chamber Orchestra, and was a prizewinner at the “Kol Ha Musica” (Israel Broadcasting Authority) Young Artists Competition. Having received her Master's degree from the New England Conservatory while studying with Miriam Fried, Ms.Kazovsky graduated from NEC’s Professional String Quartet Studies program, during which she continued her violin studies with Donald Weilerstein. Ms. Kazovsky currently plays on a 17th century violin by Francesco Rugeri Rugeri on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation

Amit Even-Tov

Israeli cellist Amit Even-Tov started studying cello at the age of six with Sabina Frankenberg. Among her many honors and awards, Ms. Even-Tov won first prize at the Paul Ben-Haim Competition in 2001, third prize at the “Kol Ha Musica” (Israel Broadcasting Authority) Young Artists Competition in 2002, and first prize in the special Jerusalem Academy Competition in 2003, resulting in a solo appearance with the Academy Orchestra and conductor Ilan Schul. In addition, she has performed as a soloist with the Israel Stage Orchestra, and in a live broadcast on Israel Radio with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Even-Tov is a graduate of the "Young Musicians Unit" (now the David Goldmann Programme for young artists) of the Jerusalem Music Centre.

Ms. Even-Tov was the yearly recipient of scholarships from both the Veron Foundation (since 1993) and the American-Israel Cultural Foundation (since 1997). Previous teachers have included Uzi Weisel, Hillel Zori, the late Michael Homizer, and Zvi Plesser. Having previously studied with Paul Katz at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Ms. Even-Tov graduated from NEC’s Professional String Quartet Studies program, during which she continued her cello studies with Laurence Lesser. Ms. Even-Tov plays on a 1743 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini Cello on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Gershon Gerchikov

Israeli violinist, Gershon Gerchikov, began his violin studies at the age of five, under the guidance of Daniel Fradkin. He later worked with the late Moshe Gershovitz and from 1994 until moving to the United States has been studying with Ludmila Feldman at both the Rubin Conservatory and the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem. Since 1994, Mr. Gerchikov has received ongoing scholarship support from both the Veron Foundation and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. While still in Israel, Mr. Gerchikov performed with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Yad Harif Chamber Orchestra and the St. Petersburg Radio Orchestra, and was a prizewinner in the Violinists-Composers Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia (2001). Mr. Gerchikov is a graduate of the "Young Musicians Unit" (now the David Goldmann Programme for young artists) of the Jerusalem Music Centre.

Mr. Gerchikov received his Bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory while studying with Lucy Chapman as well as Miriam Fried, and graduated from NEC’s Professional String Quartet Studies program, during which he continued his violin studies with Miriam Fried, and Donald Weilerstein. Mr. Gerchikov plays on a Petrus Guarneri violin on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Jan Grüning

Jan Grüning was born in Munich in 1984. Following private education from Gerd Michael Herbig, he studied at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in the class of Barbara Westphal from 2003 to 2008. In 2010 Jan enrolled in the New England Conservatory of Music as a student of Kim Kashkashian’s. Jan has participated and performed at various festivals and master classes both in Europe and North America - such as Sarasota/Florida, Bowdoin/Maine, Orford/Canada, the Verbier Festival, the IMS Prussia Cove and the International Tibor Varga Academy in Sion. On such occasions he had the chance to gain experience in working with internationally distinguished artists like Yuri Bashmet, Robert Levin, Lars Anders Tomter and Jean Sulem. Private studies with Ferenc Rados have had a great impact on his musical development.

Jan was first prize winner of several youth competitions in the categories of violin solo, viola solo and string quartet and in 2005 he was awarded the Marie-Luise Imbusch foundation prize. A prestigious scholarship of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) enabled him to study in Boston. An avid chamber musician, Jan has collaborated with musicians such as Claudio Bohorquéz, Adrian Brendel, Isabel Charisius (Alban Berg Quartet), Markus Groh and Daishin Kashimoto (Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic); concerts of his have been broadcasted on both TV (Phoenix TV) and Radio (NDR, Deutschlandradio Kultur).

More Info

Ariel String Quartet - web page