Donum String Quartet Is New Juilliard Graduate Resident Quartet

Donum String Quartet Is New Juilliard Graduate Resident Quartet

Quartet To Give the Lisa Arnhold Memorial Recital 

Thursday, May 6, 2027 in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall 

[NEW YORK, August 2026]—Juilliard welcomes the Donum String Quartet as its next graduate resident string quartet. The ensemble begins its two-year residency at the start of Juilliard's fall semester and will continue through May 2028. Featuring violinists Seungwon Park and Inhae Cho, violist Ilgyeong Shin, and cellist Hyeonmin Lee, the quartet formed in 2019 at Seoul National University. 

Taking inspiration from the Latin word donum, meaning “gift,” the quartet made its debut at the Seoul Arts Center and has since performed around the world, establishing a home base in the United States. In 2025,  Donum received the Silver Medal at the ninth Manhattan International Music Competition and was named a semifinalist at the Naumburg Chamber Music Competition. In March 2026, the quartet was awarded second prize in the senior division at the 13th Coltman Chamber Music Competition and, in May, advanced to the semifinal round of the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Donum has performed at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the ENCORE Chamber Music Institute, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival. 

“The Graduate String Quartet program at Juilliard is devoted both to this vital medium and to the broader study of chamber music, which is absolutely core to the Juilliard experience,” said David Serkin Ludwig, dean and director of the Music Division, “The opportunity for the Donum Quartet to work closely with the Juilliard String Quartet (JSQ), Juilliard faculty who are members of other leading quartets, and assistant dean Merry Peckham—herself an acclaimed quartet player—speaks to the exceptional depth of the program and its importance within the field.” 

As Lisa Arnhold Fellows at Juilliard, the members of the Donum Quartet will: 

• Receive coaching from the JSQ, assist the JSQ with its ensemble and chamber music instruction, and participate in the annual Juilliard String Quartet Seminar; 

• Coach other student ensembles and aid first-year undergraduate students enrolled in the String Quartet Survey class; 

• Give the annual Lisa Arnhold Memorial Recital. This season's recital will take place on Thursday, May 6, 2027 at 7:30pm in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall; 

• Earn Artist Diplomas in String Quartet Studies upon completion of their residency 

“The Donum String Quartet performs at a high artistic level and conveys deep meaning in their powerful interpretations,” said Merry Peckham, assistant dean and director of chamber music. “I am simply thrilled that this fine young ensemble will be at Juilliard, sharing their passion and serious approach to great quartet playing with the Juilliard student body. I so look forward to witnessing the group’s development and artistic growth as studies with members of the Juilliard Quartet commence.” 

The quartet’s four members developed strong musical bonds early in their musical lives, which continue to shape their work as an ensemble. Their trust in one another guides their playing, and they look forward to sharing powerful performances with audiences throughout their time with Juilliard. 

The Katarina String Quartet completed its residency with Juilliard at the end of the 2025–26 academic year, joining a distinguished set of quartets that have held residencies at Juilliard. Former Juilliard quartets in residence include the Aeolus, Afiara, Attacca, Avalon, Biava, Calder, Cassatt, Chiara, Corigliano, Essex, Ivalas, Lark, Maia, Magellan (now the Whitman String Quartet), Miro´, St. Lawrence, Shanghai, Ulysses, and Verona. 

Juilliard’s graduate resident string quartet is supported by the Arnhold Foundation and the George L. Shields Foundation. 

About The Juilliard School 

Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to cultivate excellence through the highest caliber of education in music, dance, and drama for gifted students from around the world, so they may achieve their fullest potential, expanding the reach and elevating the impact of the arts. Juilliard is led by Damian Woetzel, seventh president of the school, who has prioritized affordability and access to the highest level of artistic education while championing Juilliard’s tradition of excellence. 

Located at Lincoln Center in New York City, Juilliard offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, drama (acting and playwriting), and music (classical, jazz, historical performance, and vocal arts). More than 800 artists from 42 states and 50 countries and regions are enrolled in Juilliard’s College Division, where they appear in more than 800 annual performances in the school’s five theaters; at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully and David Geffen halls and at Carnegie Hall; as well as at other venues around New York City, the U.S., and the world. The continuum of learning at Juilliard also includes nearly 400 students from elementary through high school enrolled in the Preparatory Division—Pre-College and Music Advancement Program (MAP); MAP serves students from diverse backgrounds often underrepresented in the classical music field. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in Juilliard Extension, the flagship continuing education program taught both in person and remotely by a dedicated faculty of performers, creators, and scholars. Beyond its New York campus, Juilliard is defining new directions in performing arts education for a range of learners and enthusiasts through a global K–12 educational curricula and preparatory and graduate studies at The Tianjin Juilliard School in China. 

juilliard.edu @juilliardschool 
 

CONTACTS: 

Brendan Padgett 

Madeleine Jennings 
news@juilliard.edu