Bienen students win 2025 Luminarts Fellowships
/sites/default/files/2025-04/20250411_luminarts.jpgFour Bienen School of Music students have been named 2025 fellows by the Luminarts Cultural Foundation.
Alumnus Tommy Mesa awarded Avery Fisher Career Grant
/sites/default/files/2025-03/20250320_mesa.jpgCuban-American cellist and Bienen School of Music alumnus Tommy Mesa ’14 MMus has been awarded a $25,000 Avery Fisher Career Grant.
Forst Quartet advances in St. Paul Competition
/sites/default/files/2023-03/20230321_forst_quartet.jpgForst Quartet, an ensemble of Bienen School of Music undergraduate students, has advanced to the finals of the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition.
Cellist Sydney Lee wins inaugural Gurrena Fellowship
/sites/default/files/2022-09/20220902_sydney.jpgSydney Lee ’22 MMus was named the inaugural recipient of the Meadowmount School of Music's $50,000 Gurrena Fellowship.
Cellist Sydney Lee wins Washington International Competition
/sites/default/files/2022-05/20220531_Lee_Sydney.jpgSydney Lee, a master’s cello student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, has won first prize and $10,000 in the 2022 Washington International Competition for Strings.
Galvin Cello Quartet wins 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition
/sites/default/files/2022-05/20220527_galvin_cello.jpgThe Bienen School of Music’s Galvin Cello Quartet has been named a winner of the Concert Artists Guild’s 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition.
Cellist Sydney Lee wins second prize in Classic Strings Competition
/sites/default/files/2022-05/20220519_sydney_lee.jpgSydney Lee, a master’s cello student of Hans Jensen at the Bienen School of Music, has won second prize in the 2022 Classic Strings International Cello Competition.
Bienen cellists to compete in 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition
/sites/default/files/2022-03/20220225_queen-elisabeth2.jpgFour cellists from the Bienen School have been invited to participate in the second edition of the Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition this May in Brussels, Belgium.
Galvin Cello Quartet advances in Victor Elmaleh Competition
/sites/default/files/2022-02/Galvin_Cello_Quartet_web.jpegThe Bienen School’s Galvin Cello Quartet has advanced to the semi-finals of the Concert Artists Guild’s 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition.
Galvin Cello Quartet wins silver in 2021 Fischoff Competition
/sites/default/files/2021-03/Galvin_Cello_Quartet_web.jpgThe Bienen School of Music’s Galvin Cello Quartet has won the silver medal in the 48th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in the senior strings division.
Alumna Adrienne Taylor wins composition fellowship
/sites/default/files/2021-02/Taylor-Adrienne2.jpgBienen School alumna Adrienne Taylor '06 MMus, a cellist and composer, has won a $25,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund.
Brannon Cho wins 2020 Starker Foundation Award
/sites/default/files/2020-12/20201211_Cho_Brannon.jpgCellist Brannon Cho ’17 has been awarded the $35,000 János Starker Foundation Award for 2020.
Alumnus Richard Narroway wins Freedman Classical Prize
/sites/default/files/2020-09/20200908_Narroway_Richard.jpgCellist Richard Narroway ‘13 was named winner of the Music Trust's 2020 Freedman Classical Fellowship. The prestigious $20,000 award is offered to an exceptional instrumentalist annually.
Two Bienen ensembles compete in virtual Fischoff
/sites/default/files/2020-05/Fischoff_2020_0.jpgTwo student chamber ensembles from the Bienen School of Music – Fuse Quartet and Trio Noré – advanced in the 47th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, which moved to an online format for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cellist Sihao He selected as Bowers Program Artist
/sites/default/files/2020-03/20200330_sihao.jpgThe Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) has selected Sihao He (MM18), a doctoral cello student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, as one of five artists for the Bowers Program.
Two Bienen ensembles to compete in MTNA Finals
/sites/default/files/2020-01/20200109_MTNA_ensembles.jpgTwo Bienen School of Music student ensembles have advanced to the finals of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Chamber Music Competition.
Cellist Sihao He wins third prize in ARD International Competition
/sites/default/files/2019-09/20190913_sihao_ARD.jpgSihao He (G18), a doctoral cello student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, won third prize and €5,000 in the 2019 ARD International Cello Competition in Munich, Germany.
Two Bienen School ensembles advance to Fischoff Competition
/sites/default/files/2019-04/20190403_fischoff_collage.jpgTwo Bienen School student ensembles – Fuse Quartet and Galvin Trio – have been invited to the 46th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Cello alum Brannon Cho wins Paulo Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-10/20181022_cho_paulo.jpgCellist Brannon Cho ’17, a former student of Bienen School professor Hans Jørgen Jensen, received first prize in the 2018 Paulo International Cello Competition in Helsinki, Finland.
Ask the Pros: Hans Jensen discusses student competitions
/sites/default/files/2018-01/20171229_hans_jensen.jpgASK THE PROS takes Violin Channel member Hasan Ninov's question "How do you know when students are ready for competitions, and how do you help them prepare?" to Bienen professor Hans Jørgen Jensen.
https://theviolinchannel.com/hans-jorgen-jensen-cellist-student-ready-competiti…Hans Jørgen Jensen is professor of cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.
Learn MoreCello students advance to finals of Queen Elisabeth Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-04/20170522_cello_finalists.jpgBrannon Cho has received sixth prize in the Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, an award of 8000 euros. As an unranked laureate, Sihao He receives a prize of 4000 euros.
Bienen students will compete in Queen Elisabeth competition
/sites/default/files/2018-01/20170331_queen_elisabeth.jpgTwo cello students from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University have been accepted into the inaugural Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, which will take place in May in Brussels, Belgium.
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/march/bienen-students-will-compete-i…The Dover Quartet completes first residency year at Bienen School
/sites/default/files/2018-01/20160811_dover_quartet.jpgThe Dover Quartet concluded its first year in a three-year residency at the Bienen School with a series of events at Northwestern during the spring quarter. In addition to performing in the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, the quartet-in-residence — whose members include violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee, violist Milena Pajaro van de Stadt, and cellist Camden Shaw— also led a master class for Bienen students and served as judges for the first Dover Quartet Competition.
NU Cello Ensemble releases album ‘Shadow, Echo, Memory’
/sites/default/files/2018-01/20160729_cello_ensemble.jpgThe Northwestern University Cello Ensemble released its latest album “Shadow, Echo, Memory” on July 29, 2016 from Sono Luminus. Led by Professor Hans Jørgen Jensen, the ensemble is comprised of current and former cello students from the Bienen School of Music.
New Music Thrives at Northwestern
/sites/default/files/2018-10/20160601_newmusic_recap.jpgThe Institute for New Music held its second new-music conference November 6–8. NUNC! 2 brought together composers, performers, theorists, and musicologists specializing in new music.
Join Northwestern’s Arts Circle Celebration
/sites/default/files/2018-02/20160518_arts_circle.jpgFree June 4 daylong Arts Circle Celebration to feature dance, music, demos, exhibits and more.
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2016/05/arts-circle-celebration-june-4Bienen student wins prestigious award for cello performance
/sites/default/files/2019-05/20160504_cello_award.jpgIn a cover of “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, Bienen junior Wickliffe Simmons uses every possible sound he could make on his cello to recreate the harmonies, beats and subtle rushes in the song.
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2016/05/04/ae/bienen-student-wins-prestigious-awa…Four Bienen students receive 2016 Luminarts Fellowships
/sites/default/files/2018-01/20160418_luminarts.jpgFour Bienen School of Music students have been awarded 2016 Luminarts Fellowships in Classical Music, along with $5,000 each, from the Luminarts Cultural Foundation.
Bienen Students Showcased at Kennedy Center Feb. 16
/sites/default/files/2018-08/02022016_kennedy.jpgFour students from Northwestern University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music will perform in the semi-annual special concert at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing the best young musical artists from the nation’s leading colleges, universities and conservatories.
Opening celebration for Charlotte Moorman exhibit to be held Jan. 16
/sites/default/files/2018-02/20160104_moorman.jpgA new Northwestern University exhibition exploring the legacy of cellist Charlotte Moorman opens January 16 with a program featuring several Bienen School student performances.
Northwestern Cello Ensemble Recognized by New York Times
/sites/default/files/2018-03/20151214_cello_ensemble.jpgThe Northwestern University Cello Ensemble has been recognized by The New York Times on a list of the “Best Classical Music Recordings of 2015.
Bienen student places second in world-renowned cello competition
/sites/default/files/2018-04/20151029_cello_competition.jpgBienen junior and cello performance major Brannon Cho tied for second place at the Naumburg International Cello Competition, one of the most prestigious cello competitions in the world.
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2015/10/29/ae/bienen-student-places-second-in-wor…Brannon Cho Receives Second Prize in Naumburg Cello Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-03/20151020_Brannon_Cho.jpgCellist Brannon Cho, a junior music performance major in the Bienen School of Music, tied for second place in the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation’s 2015 International Cello Competition.
Bienen School Cellist Brannon Cho Progresses in Tchaikovsky Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-08/20150610_tchaikovsky%20edited.jpgCellist Brannon Cho, a sophomore music performance major who is participating in the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition this summer in Russia alongside a select group of the best young cellists in the world, is making headway.
Cho receives first prize in the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-05/20150601_prize%20edited.jpgBienen sophomore cellist Brannon Cho received first prize in the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition on May 31, 2015.
Northwestern cellist to compete in elite Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia
/sites/default/files/2018-05/20150518_cellist%20edited.jpgA Northwestern University student and his half-million-dollar cello are headed to Russia next month to compete in the International Tchaikovsky Competition, an elite contest that can launch careers.
Bienen Student To Compete in Russia's Tchaikovsky Competition
/sites/default/files/2018-05/20150512_compete%20edit.jpgCellist Brannon Cho, a sophomore music performance major in Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, has been invited to participate in the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition this summer in Russia alongside 50 of the best young cellists in the world.
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2015/05/bienen-student-to-compete-in-russ…Four Bienen students to perform at Kennedy Center on April 21
/sites/default/files/2018-08/04162015_kennedy.jpgFour students and one alumnus of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music will perform in a concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, as part of the Kennedy Center’s Conservatory Project.
Hans Jørgen Jensen Receives 2010 Artist Teacher Award from American String Teachers Association
/sites/default/files/2018-08/03082010_jensen.jpgHans Jørgen Jensen, professor of cello, has received the 2010 Artist Teacher Award, given by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).