April 13, 2026
The Soha Quartet celebrated a major win, earning both Second Prize and the Audience Prize at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition, a prestigious national event that draws talented ensembles from across the country.
The group described the experience as both exciting and rewarding, highlighting the opportunity to perform and connect with fellow young musicians. “We had so much fun performing and meeting new quartet friends,” the ensemble shared following the announcement.
Hosted by Ray Shows, the competition brought together rising chamber musicians in a supportive and spirited environment. The quartet expressed gratitude to their coaches, Sandy Yamamoto and Joshua Gindele, for their guidance and preparation leading up to the event. They also thanked fellow competitors, including the Prometheus Quartet and Karuna Quartet, for their camaraderie, as well as supporters who helped them secure the Audience Prize.
The Soha Quartet is composed of Mei Liu, Chloe Yofan, Thomas Gougeon, and Katsuaki Arakawa, students from the Butler School of Music. Their recent success adds momentum as they prepare for their next major appearance at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition next month.