Candide Quartet
Formed in 2023, the Candide Quartet consists of violinists Chili Ekman and Henry Rogers, violist Amelia Krinke, and cellist Vanny Hu. The group’s name reflects its shared love for Voltaire’s Candide and its philosophies, embodying the camaraderie and dedication they feel are inherent in both the novel and string quartet playing.
In 2024, the Candide Quartet was the Fellowship String Quartet in Residence at Music in the Vineyards in Napa and also participated in Madeline Island Chamber Music in Wisconsin. At both festivals, the quartet had the opportunity to perform alongside faculty and coach developing high school string quartets. Later that year, the quartet held a week-long residency at the MacPhail Center in Minneapolis, participating in music education outreach programs and community recitals.
In 2025, the quartet continued to pursue professional engagements and expanded its festival experience, attending the Robert Mann String Quartet Seminar and the Calidore Quartet Seminar at the University of Delaware. During the summer, the quartet attended the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and the PRISMA Quartet Fellowship. The Candide Quartet also worked with Caroline Shaw, presenting the Juilliard premiere of her work Plan and Elevation at Juilliard’s inaugural Fall Festival. The quartet later collaborated with Shaw again for the first Juilliard at Zankel Hall concert, performing Shaw’s Other Song alongside the composer.
In 2026, Candide firmly established itself as a rising young ensemble, earning recognition at several of the country’s leading chamber music competitions. This year, the quartet was awarded First Prize at the National Frances Walton Chamber Music Competition and named a 2026 Barnebl String Quartet Fellow at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. The quartet was also a finalist in the 2026 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition and a semifinalist in the 2026 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Throughout its development, the Candide Quartet has been coached and mentored by many esteemed musicians, including David Finckel, Daniel Phillips, Paul Neubauer, Samuel Rhodes, Robert Levin, Eugene Drucker, Nicholas Mann, Joseph Lin, Brian Zeger, and David Kim. The quartet has also worked with the Miro, American, Calidore, Harlem, and Pacifica Quartets, among others.
