Courtesy of Notos Quartett

Notos Quartett features violinist Sindri Lederer, violist Andrea Burger, cellist Benjamin Lai and pianist Antonia Koster.

The world-class chamber ensemble Notos Quartett will be hosting a masterclass on March 28 at the Westhope Presbyterian Church, along with a concert on March 29 at the De Anza College Visual and Performing Arts Center. As a piano quartet, it features a professional violinist, violist, pianist and cellist.  

Board vice president and trustee Katherine Tseng first shared this information with the Saratoga High community in February through principal Greg Louie. Tseng is a volunteer with the local organization ArtsSV — a nonprofit that aims to change the cultural landscape of Silicon Valley by showcasing artists — and she is a part of organizing this performance. 

ArtsSV offers a variety of events, usually through concerts or festivals, to recognize international and emerging artists in the area. They’ve also made it a mission to connect aspiring musical performers in the area with renowned artists, such as through masterclass experience. 

Cellist Benjamin Lai of the ensemble is a native of Cupertino. Through his mother, the group’s agent contacted ArtsSV.   

“Notos Quartett performs as a unique piano quartet, unlike the more common string quartet,” Tseng said. “This combination creates a rich and colorful texture, blending the expressive depth of strings with the harmonic versatility of the piano.”

Formed in 2007 and currently based in Berlin, the group has enjoyed success in many international competitions and musical halls like the Berlin Philharmonie. They are well-versed in traditional classical compositions as well as in premieres and commissions of new works. In 2022, Notos Quartett received the Jeunesses Musicales Wurth Prize, one of the most exclusive awards in the German music landscape, for their contribution to chamber music.  

While the masterclass is free admission, the general tickets for the concert are $45. However, Saratoga High and Los Gatos High students can receive a student discount for a ticket price of $30. 

At the concert, the group will be performing the Mozart Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 478; the William Walton Piano Quartet and the Brahms Piano quartet in C minor, Op. 60.