Crown Quartet is a dynamic and versatile
string ensemble comprised of Columbia University and
Juilliard musicians. As leaders within the Columbia University
Orchestra, their shared passion and commitment to music
brought them together at the start of 2023. This past May,
the group was selected among forty applicants to perform
at Columbia University's annual commencement ceremony for
over 30,000 listeners. Their talents were also featured on
Ensemble Januarius's album, Amerika, where they
recorded the Bach Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor.
The Crown Quartet welcomes opportunities to share their music
in various settings. From classical to pop to Broadway, the
group showcases a diverse repertoire and infuses each
performance with unparalleled artistry and professionalism.
Elevate your next wedding ceremony, recording session, or
party by
contacting us today.
ALYSSA KIM
Violin
Alyssa Kim is a junior at Columbia University
studying music and computer science. She currently
studies violin with Grammy Award-winning violinist
Richard Rood. Alyssa has been a first violinist of
the Columbia University Orchestra for the past two
years, and she has served as Concertmaster of
the pit orchestra and Assistant Music Director for
various musical theatre productions on campus. She
was previously the Co-Concertmaster of the American
Youth Philharmonic and ranked as the number-one
violinist for the 2021 All-Virginia State Orchestra
and the 2020 Northern Virginia Senior Regional
Orchestra.
Alyssa is a winner of several competitions, awards,
and scholarships such as the James C. MacDonald Performing
Arts Scholarship, the U.S. Army Orchestra
Young Artist Competition, the Young Musicians Inspiring
Change International Competition, and the Great Composers
International Competition.
She was accepted into many distinguished summer programs
such as the Boston Tanglewood Institute, the Summer Music
Institute with the NSO, the Cleveland Institute of Music
Violin Intensive, and the Philadelphia International
Music Festival.
GABRIELA BENYAS
Violin
A junior on the Dean's List at Columbia
University in the City of New York and a violin
student of Professors Michael Barta and Muneko Otani,
Gabriela Benyas is Co-Principal Second Violin of
the Columbia University Orchestra and a violinist
in the Southern Illinois Music Festival, with which
she has performed every year since 2016. She was
previously Concertmaster of the Southern Illinois
Symphony, First Violin of the SISO String Quartet,
performed at chamber music festivals in Spain and
Italy, and was a three-year participant in the
Illinois All-State and Honors Orchestras. Gabriela
recently performed with her piano quartet at Carnegie
Hall, and at Alice Tully Hall with the Columbia
University Orchestra.
Outside of her musical activities, Gabriela studies
history on the pre-law track, and in her free time
she works at Columbia Undergraduate Admissions as a
social media intern and member of the Rural
Recruitment Committee.
DANIEL SIMMONS
Viola
Daniel Simmons is a junior in the Columbia University-Juilliard
School Program, where he majors in economics and viola
performance. He participates extensively in chamber
music and orchestra. A graduate of the Juilliard
Pre-College, Daniel has attended some of the most
prestigious music programs including the Heifetz
International Institute of Music, Carnegie Hall's
National Youth Orchestra of the United States of
America, Curtis Institute of Music Summerfest, and
Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In Summer
2023, Daniel attended the Colorado College
Summer Music Festival and the Conservatoire Americain
in Fontainebleau, France.
He has performed in numerous
renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully
Hall, Seiji Ozawa Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the
Dimenna Center, the Kimmel Center, and the Metropolitan
Museum of Art. Daniel has played under the baton of
the world's finest conductors including Sir Simon
Rattle, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Ken-David Masur,
David Robertson, Scott Yoo, and Carlos Miguel Prieto.
At Columbia University, he holds the chair of Principal
violist of the University Orchestra. His musical
mentors have included Paul Neubauer, Steven Tenenbom,
Molly Carr, and Byung-Kook Kwak.
ALEX LAVERTY
Cello
Alex Laverty is a junior at Columbia University studying applied math and classics. Born and raised in Chicago, he picked up the cello at an early age, studying at the Merit School of Music and playing with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Alex has participated in several music festivals such as Interlochen, Birch Creek, and the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and continues to engage with music in college with the Columbia University Orchestra and various chamber ensembles. Through Columbia's music program, Alex has had the opportunity to play at Alice Tully Hall with the CUO, and Carnegie Hall with his piano quintet. Alex hopes to continue with music throughout college and beyond, pursuing opportunities on campus and throughout New York.