~Nois, a Bienen School of Music saxophone quartet, has been awarded the silver medal in the 44th annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition’s senior wind division.

Quartet members include Brandon Quarles, Hunter Bockes, Janos Csontos and Jordan Lulloff. All are master’s students of associate professor Taimur Sullivan.

“To be medal winners in one of the most prestigious and largest chamber competitions in the world, for a group that met and formed only eight months ago, is a testament to their incredible dedication, work ethic, and individual artistry,” said Sullivan.

After advancing through three rounds of the Fischoff Competition, ~Nois performed in the senior wind division finals on Sunday, May 14, at the University of Notre Dame. The quartet received a silver medal in that category along with a $3,000 cash prize. The gold medal in the senior wind division went to Fuego Quartet, while Eos Sextet took home bronze.

Founded in September 2016 at Northwestern, ~Nois specializes in the performance of new music. The quartet previously won first prize in the Chicago Woodwind Ensemble Competition.


  • Taimur Sullivan
  • woodwinds