Poiesis Quartet Wins 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award

The honor recognizes the ensemble as one of North America's most promising young string quartets.

Congratulations to Poiesis Quartet, Curtis’ new Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet in Residence, for winning the 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award. As one of Chamber Music America’s highest honors, the award recognizes and promotes a rising young string quartet whose artistry demonstrates it is in the process of establishing a major career.

“The Cleveland Quartet Award is named for one of history’s most illustrious ensembles, whose exceptional artistry and deep commitment to mentorship helped shape generations of quartets. It’s inspiring to see this lineage alive in Poiesis, whose brilliant musicianship and extraordinary artistry are already unmistakable, even in their short time together,” said CMA’s CEO, Kevin Kwan Loucks.

As part of the award, the quartet will be presented by a consortium of eight presenters: the Buffalo Chamber Music Society; Carnegie Hall; Chamber Music Society of Detroit; Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC; Friends of Chamber Music in Kansas City, MO; Market Square Concerts in Harrisburg, PA; Krannert Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Texas Performing Arts.

Read more about the Poiesis Quartet and the award.