Today's guest in this first episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Blaise Magnière, first violin of the Avalon String Quartet. I could not be more excited to be on site at the University of Notre-Dame as one of the official podcasters covering the 46th Annual Fischoff Competition from May 10 to 12, And, I thought it would be really fun to bring you guys 5 former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

So, this week, you will hear all about the Fischoff Effect with my guests - Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

Website: http://www.fischoff.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFischoff

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Avalon String Quartet - Grand Prize 1998

Blaise Magnière & Mary Wang, violin | Tony Devroye, viola | Chen-Hou Lee, cello

https://avalonquartet.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avalonqt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/avalonstringquartet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=avalon+string+quartet

Described by the Chicago Tribune as "an ensemble that invites you — ears, mind, and spirit — into its music"

The Avalon has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd St Y, Merkin Hall, and Bargemusic in New York; the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London; and Herculessaal in Munich. Other performances include appearances at the Bath International Music Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Caramoor, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, NPR's St. Paul Sunday, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Dame Myra Hess Concerts, Los Angeles Music Guild, and the Ravinia Festival. The quartet is performing an annual concert series at historic Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University. In recent seasons, the Avalon presented the complete quartet cycles of Beethoven, Bartok, and Brahms at Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Avalon is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music, a position formerly held by the Vermeer Quartet. Additional teaching activities have included the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute, Interlochen Advanced Quartet Program, Madeline Island Music Camp, and the Britten-Pears School in England, as well as masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout the United States. Additionally, they have given numerous performances and presentations to young audiences in under-resourced schools and communities.