Presented by The Perlman Music Program Suncoast, visitors to The Ringling are invited to enjoy a free one-hour classical music concert performed by PMP alumni, the Zota Quartet in the Museum of Art Courtyard. All visitors are welcome to drop by!

The Zota Quartet met in 2023 at the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop. Its members hail from New York, Florida, Shanghai, and Korea, and have studied at institutions including The Juilliard School, the Yale School of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Colburn Conservatory. Their numerous individual accolades include top prizes at competitions such as the Hong Kong International Music Competition, Schadt National Competition for Strings, Ysaӱe International Competition, and National Young arts Foundation.

All deeply passionate about chamber music, they have studied at festivals besides PMP such as Ravinia, Music@Menlo, Verbier Festival Academy, and Marlboro. Having been themselves touched by music at early ages, the Zota Quartet is committed to sharing music with the next generation. They had the opportunity to work specifically on educational outreach at the PMP Alumni Retreat in the fall of 2023, presenting programs to children ranging from kindergarten through high school under the guidance of Merry Peckham and Tanya Maggi, dean of Community Engagement at the New England Conservatory.

The Zota Quartet derives its name from the rich history of Sarasota (in its original spelling from the 1700s, Sara-zota). While the exact etymological origins remain up for debate, it is likely that “Zota” was a Native American term used to describe something clear, blue, and beautiful – perhaps Sarasota’s beautiful bay. The Zota Quartet feels that no better word could be used to describe chamber music making. When four people collaborate as a quartet, all of life’s business falls away, and what is left is one clear goal: to celebrate the beauty of great art, and to share it with the audience. The Zota Quartet owes their deepest gratitude to the Perlman Music Program and PMP Suncoast for fostering a magical environment of both exploration and sharing.

Clara Neubauer, violin

Praised for her “seductive artistry” and “rare grace” (Classical Voice North America), violinist Clara Neubauer is a recent recipient of the Ana Chumachenco Award from the Kronberg Academy and the Peter Mennin Prize from The Juilliard School.

Clara first began her Perlman Music Program journey at the age of 15 as part of the “Littles” Program, which she attended for 3 summers, as well as two wonderful residencies at PMP Suncoast in Sarasota, Florida. She returned to PMP as part of the Chamber Music Workshop in 2023. Clara has appeared at festivals including the Ravinia Festival, Taos School of Music, Music@Menlo, Four Seasons, Music from Angel Fire, Olympic Music Festival, and Marlboro Music Festival. Winner of the silver medal at the National Young Arts competition, Clara has appeared as soloist with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, the Symphony of Westchester, the New York Concerti Sinfonietta, the Little Orchestra Society, Ensemble 212, and the Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra.

Clara is currently earning her Masters of Music degree at The Juilliard School, where she also received her Bachelor of Music Degree, as a student of Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman and a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship.

Tong Chen, violin

Tong Chen hails from Shanghai and is an avid soloist and chamber musician. He has competed internationally and placed favorably including Hong Kong International Violin Competition (2nd), Vancouver International Music Competition (3rd), Ysaye International Violin Competition (finalist) and the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition. Tong has participated in numerous music festivals including Verbier Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Four Seasons Chamber Music Winter Workshop, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and The Chamber Music Workshop at Perlman Music Program.

As a passionate chamber musician, Tong was coached by the members of Borromeo String Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, Merry Peckham, John Heiss, and Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. Tong has shared stages with Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Melvin Chen, Areta Zhulla, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, and Paul Biss.

He earned his Bachelor and  Master of Music degrees from the New England Conservatory under Miriam Fried, Paul Biss and Donald Weilerstein. His many important mentors include Mark Steinberg and Itzhak Perlman. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Philip Setzer and Jennifer Frautschi.

Cassia Drake, viola

Cassia Drake, a native of Southwest Florida, gave her solo debut with the Artis-Naples Orchestra at age 14. She recently graduated from the Yale School of Music where she received her Masters of Musical Arts as a student of Ettore Causa. Previously, she graduated from Colburn Conservatory with her Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees under the tutelage of Paul Coletti.

Ms. Drake is an avid chamber musician and has collaborated with musicians such as members of the Tokyo, Calidore, Aviv, and New Orford String Quartet, as well as Antonio Lysy, Shmuel Ashkenazi, and Eliso Virsaladze. As a soloist she has appeared with the Colburn Orchestra, Arits-Naples Philharmonic, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra, and the Bravo Summer Music Festival.

In 2023 Ms. Drake attended the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop, the Chamber Music Retreat, and the PMP Winter Residency in Sarasota. Ms. Drake plays on a 1872 Aldophus Mönnig, a generous loan from Bernard Friedland.

Connor Kim, cello
Connor is a passionate chamber musician and has performed with world-renowned artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Roger Tapping, Atar Arad, and Hsin Yun Huang. Festival appearances include Ravinia Steans Music Institute, Music@Menlo’s International Program, Kneisel Hall, the Perlman Music Program, Kronberg Academy Cello Masterclasses, and IMS Prussia Cove.

He has performed and worked with various ensembles such as the New York Classical Players, Ensemble Salome, Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, and is a principal cellist for The Roosevelt Island Orchestra. Connor has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Stern Auditorium, Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Disney Hall, Hwang In Young’s MusicSpace Camerata, the Seoul Arts Center, WQXR’s Greene Space, Brooklyn’s Bargemusic and more.

Connor completed both his Bachelors and Masters degrees at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Joel Krosnick and Timothy Eddy. He is currently serving as a faculty assistant for Joel Krosnick, and is enrolled in Juilliard’s Artist Diploma program. Connor gratefully plays on a Becker cello on loan by the Colburn Foundation.