THE VIRTUOSI QUINTET, now in its 43^rd  season, was formed in 1983 to showcase the soloistic talents of five exceptional New York artists.  In February, 1985, the Quintet made its critically acclaimed Carnegie Recital Hall Debut.  Subsequently Musical America Magazine named the group “Young Artists of 1986”.  Since that time the Quintet has made numerous national tours through Columbia Artists Management, and has appeared in major concert halls, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, Chamber Music Society of the Monterey Peninsula and the Harvard Musical Association.  As soloists with the Atlantic Sinfonietta, the Quintet was featured in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, and has performed with the Sinfonietta in a series of CDs for Koch International Classics.  The Quintet has also recorded the music of American composer Robert Baksa on the Capstone and Musical Heritage Society labels (click on the 'Media' link above to hear some of this CD).  The Virtuosi were also the core winds for the Twentieth Century Unlimited chamber ensemble (Santa Fe, NM).  The Quintet has performed frequently on WQXR, WNCN and WBAI Radio in New York City, as well as public radio stations in New York State, California, Maine and Ohio.

          In addition to its national tours, the Quintet was the resident ensemble at The New-York Historical Society, performing chamber music concerts from 1984 until 1991.  

          Individually, the members of the Virtuosi (Amy Hersh, flute; Elizabeth Condon, oboe; Larry Tietze, clarinet; Ian Donald, horn and James Jeter, bassoon) have also performed with such prestigious ensembles as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, New York City Symphony, Opera Orchestra of NY, Joffrey Ballet, Berkshire Opera Co. and the Colorado Music Festival.