Galvin Cello Quartet

Praised as a quartet whose “cellists are brilliant instrumentalists and thoughtful musicians individually, but their renditions as a group are glorious,” (Arnold Steinhardt, Guarneri String Quartet) the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition. Riding on the momentum of their Fischoff success, Galvin went on to win the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and joined the Concert Artists Guild roster. With members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.

With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to make the undeniable case that the cello quartet belongs at the center of the expressive lexicon for chamber music alongside other traditional forms. The group's vibrant international spirit reflects its artistic mission to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds and dazzle audiences with the cello’s limitless capabilities. Each a true virtuoso with a distinct voice, the members of the Galvin Cello Quartet are able to authentically occupy a wide array of styles, colors and moods, as well as shifting roles within given arrangements. Recent highlights include performances and educational residencies at Rockport Music Festival, Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Merkin Hall, and a reappearance at Newport Classical.

The Galvin Cello Quartet is currently represented by Epstein Fox Performances and Dinin Arts.

Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.

Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.