Performances + Events
Cellist Leland Ko ’24 AD and violinist Nathan Amaral ’24 GC are two of the four winners of the 2024 Concert Artists Guild (CAG) Louis and Susan Meisel Competition, announced May 10.
For their win, Ko and Amaral receive CAG management contracts, a New York showcase performance, professional career development and coaching, and access to CAG’s Citizen Musician Bootcamp.
Ko is finishing his Artist Diploma at NEC this month, where he has studied with faculty members Donald Weilerstein, Yeesun Kim, and Laurence Lesser. He is the recipient of the Edward P. and Margaret Richardson Presidential Scholarship. Among his myriad achievements, in November, he won first prize at the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) Competition.
Amaral studies at NEC with Donald Weilerstein. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Amaral is an internationally awarded solo violinist who won first prize in the 27th Sphinx Competition Senior Division in January. He recently released his debut album and has collaborated with world-renowned musicians, including violinist Hilary Hahn, Tabea Zimmermann, and Yura Lee. He has performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Berlin Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Dortmund, and Großer Saal Mozarteum.
Following his win, Amaral shared on social media: “I’m happy to share that I will be joining the incredible @concert_artists_guild for management! Can’t wait to keep developing this beautiful partnership and creating innovative ways to share music with all of you!”
