Orenda Quartet wins gold medal, audience, & best Haydn prize at 2026 St. Paul String Quartet Competition (jr. division)
Burlingame, Calif. (May 12, 2026) — Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) and Music at Kohl Mansion (MAKM) today announced the highly talented Bay Area Orenda Quartet has won the 2026 Junior Division Gold Medal, in addition to the Audience and Haydn prizes at the recent 21st annual St. Paul String Quartet Competition held April 18, and hosted by the renowned Artaria String Quartet.
In a related announcement, the Orenda Quartet was named one of ten semifinalist ensembles selected to compete in the Junior Division of the prestigious 2026 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, that just occurred May 8–10.
For the St. Paul String Quartet CompeHHon, six string quartet ensembles were chosen in March as finalists from 23 nationwide applications. On April 18, the finalist string quartets gathered at Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota for one marathon competition day. Three intensive rounds were held: a “Haydn round,” the “Composer Spotlight round” and a “Final round”featuring the six finalist quartets performing in each round with prizes awarded in each category in addition to bronze, silver and gold medals.