Candide Quartet

Formed in 2023, the Candide Quartet consists of violinists Chili Ekman and Henry Rogers, cellist Vanny Hu and violist Amelia Krinke.

Now in their third year as an ensemble, the Candide Quartet is even more committed to learning the chamber music repertoire and gaining performing experience. Having a shared love for Voltaire’s Candide and its philosophies, the group embodies the camaraderie and dedication that we feel are inherent in the story and string quartet playing. Our goal is to cultivate our music and share the fruits of our commitment with all of our audiences.

During the summer of 2024, the Quartet was the Fellowship String Quartet in Residence at Music in the Vineyards in Napa, as well as Madeline Island Chamber Music in Wisconsin. The quartet had the pleasure of performing alongside faculty at both festivals, and spent time coaching developing high school string quartets. This summer, the Quartet attended Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and PRISMA Quartet Fellowships to further engage with faculty as well as present back to the community. 

Upcoming, the Quartet will be holding fellowships at the Great Lakes Chamber Festival’s Shouse Institute, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire, as well as competing in the finals of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, and participating in the 2026 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in May.

The Candide Quartet has been coached and mentored by many esteemed musicians including David Finckel, Daniel Phillips, Paul Neubauer, Zvi Plesser, Samuel Rhodes, Robert Levin, Eugene Drucker, Philip Setzer, Nicholas Mann, Joseph Lin, Areta Zhulla. They have also worked with the Miro, American, Calidore, Harlem and the Pacifica Quartets, among others. 

In 2025, the Candide Quartet participated in the Robert Mann String Quartet Seminar and in 2025 and 2026, the Calidore Quartet Seminar at the University of Delaware. They also worked with Caroline Shaw to give the Juilliard premiere of her work Plan and Elevation at Juilliard’s inaugural Fall Festival. They collaborated with Shaw again for the first Juilliard at Zankel Hall concert, where they performed Shaw’s Other Song alongside the composer.

The Quartet recently made their Alice Tully Hall debut as part of the Honors Chamber Program, and was invited to participate in the CMS masterclass series with Paul Neubauer. On April 20th, the Candide Quartet presented their Honors Chamber Project in collaboration with the Juilliard School for Earth Month, featuring an art galleria pairing local art with music.