Music in the Vineyards is pleased to announce the Maple Quartet as the 2026 Fellowship String Quartet.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants representing top conservatory and university music programs nationwide and abroad, the Maple Quartet will spend three weeks in Napa Valley performing alongside festival musicians, receiving mentorship from internationally acclaimed artists, and engaging with audiences throughout the community.
As part of the 2026 Festival, the quartet will appear in festival concerts, present community performances for youth and seniors, and perform their own featured quartet recital.
Founded in 2022 at the Eastman School of Music, the award-winning Maple Quartet is defined by their unified passion for community engagement through performance and presentation in the string quartet medium.
While studying together at Eastman, members Isabel Chen (violin), Magali Pelletey (violin), John Crowley (viola), and Gabriel Hennebury (cello), were two-time recipients of the Celentano String Quartet Award, an honor recognizing an undergraduate string quartet of outstanding ability and supporting their professional growth. This recognition supported their entries to national chamber music competitions including the 2025 Frances Walton Competition, where they were awarded 2nd prize. They also received an honorable mention at the 2025 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, and were finalists at the 2025 Coltman Chamber Music Competition.
The Quartet’s primary mentors have included members of the Ying and Verona Quartets, as well as professors Mimi Hwang, David Bowlin, and Masumi Per Rostad. They have also been incredibly fortunate to receive instruction from esteemed artists such as members of the Takács and Calidore Quartets, Misha Amory, Peter Salaff, Peter Winograd, Mathieu Herzog, Amit Even-Tov, and Catherine Cosbey. Their notable collaborations have included performances with Robin Scott, Chiao-Wen Cheng, Jonathan Swartz, and Wendy Chen.
While off-stage, the quartet can be found enjoying delicious meals and getting caught up in semantics.
Now in its ninth year, the Fellowship String Quartet program is a three-week residency designed to support emerging ensembles at a pivotal stage in their professional development. Each summer, one quartet joins Music in the Vineyards’ roster of acclaimed musicians and distinguished string quartets for an immersive experience combining performance, mentorship, and community engagement in Napa Valley.
Check out the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the 2025 Fellowship String Quartet.
Mark your calendars for 2027. Confirmed dates will be updated here once available.
Application Announced: October 2026
Deadline To Apply: January 2027
Applicant Notifications: February 2027
Fellowship Dates: August 2027
Questions? Email info@musicinthevineyards.org.
