On Saturday, April 4, the 2026 Dale and Nancy Briggs Chamber Music Competition was held in Britton Recital Hall. Hosted by the Department of Chamber Music, the Briggs Chamber Music Competition was created to encourage the excellence of chamber music performance at SMTD and to provide performance opportunities for small ensembles.
The competition jury consisted of Phillip Bush (piano), University of South Carolina; Brandon Patrick George (flute), Imani Winds; and Ayane Kozasa (viola), Kronos Quartet and Owls. Matt Albert, associate professor of music and chair of the Department of Chamber Music, is the competition director.
Citrine Quartet (from left, Rimas Stapusaitis, Jonah Kulick, Alex Procajlo, and Zach Solomon) is pictured with the Briggs Competition judges (Phillip Bush, Brandon Patrick George, and Ayane Kozasa) and competition director Matt Albert. Photo: Robert Coelius
Groups perform mini-recitals of 25 minutes each, showcasing the breadth of their work throughout the year. Prizes are given to the top three groups, and the Michigan Prize is awarded for the best performance of a piece written by a Michigan composer.
SMTD is pleased to recognize this year’s winners.
First Prize: Citrine Quartet
Citrine Quartet, from left: Jonah Kulick, Rimas Stapusaitis, Zach Solomon, and Alex Procajlo. Photo: Robert Coelius
First prize was won by Citrine Quartet, consisting of Alex Procajlo (BM ’27) on soprano saxophone, Jonah Kulick (BM ’26) on alto saxophone, Zach Solomon (BM ’27) on tenor saxophone, and Rimas Stapusaitis (MM ’26) on baritone saxophone.
An excerpt from Citrine Quartet’s performance of Ryan Lindveit’s Living Plants
Second Prize: Bear Quartet
Bear Quartet, from left: Luke Pisani, Lauryn Varnell, Ami Matsushita, and Anna Sykes. Photo: Robert Coelius
Bear Quartet – with Luke Pisani (BM ’27) and Lauryn Varnell (BM ’28) on violin, Anna Sykes (MM ’26) on viola, and Ami Matsushita (BM ’27) on cello – took home second prize.
An excerpt from Bear Quartet’s performance of Claude Debussy’s String Quartet in G Minor, op. 10
Third Prize: Etwas Mehr
Etwas Mehr, from left: Abi Middaugh, Natalie Feldpausch, Eli Hall, Judson Whitney, and David Molina. Photo: Robert Coelius
Third prize went to the quintet Etwas Mehr, with Abi Middaugh (BM ’26) on flute, Natalie Feldpausch (MM ’26) on oboe, David Molina (MM ’26) on clarinet, Judson Whitney (BM ’26) on horn, and Eli Hall (BM ’26) on bassoon.
An excerpt from Etwas Mehr’s performance of Matthew Tirona’s Cargo
Michigan Prize: Vierte Quartet
Vierte Quartet, from left: Frances Norton, Anda Jiang, Adam Zeithamel, and Spencer Quarles. Photo: Robert Coelius
Vierte Quartet won the Michigan Composition Prize, which is awarded to the best performance of a piece written by a current or former SMTD composition student. The quartet, consisting of Anda Jiang (BM ’26) and Frances Norton (MM ’26) on violin, Spencer Quarles (BM ’27) on viola, and Adam Zeithamel (BM ’27) on cello, performed wants, needs, and other things by Rj Dion (MM ’26, composition).
An excerpt from Vierte Quartet’s performance of Rj Dion’s wants, needs, and other things
This annual competition is made possible by support from the Dale & Nancy Briggs Chamber Music Endowed Enrichment Fund and is named in honor of its benefactors. The fund was established in 2004 and endowed in 2006, designed to support program and scholarship needs in chamber music. The competition was launched in 2014, with guest judges selecting winners from groups representing the breadth of SMTD’s chamber music offerings.