LSO Musicians Shine with Valkyria Quartet Honors

International Honors

The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is proud to congratulate four of our own outstanding musicians—Rebecca Hall (violin), Elizabeth Bergmann (violin), Eva Ruiz (viola), and Kevin Zapata (cello)—on the remarkable achievements of their newly formed ensemble, the Valkyria Quartet.

In an exciting season of milestones, the Valkyria Quartet has been named finalists in the 2025–2026 MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Chamber Music Competition and has also won top honors at the Orvieto Musica 2025 Festival in Italy. These distinctions place them among a select group of emerging chamber ensembles gaining national and international recognition.

Finalists in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition

Founded in 1876, the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) is one of the most respected professional music organizations in the United States, representing more than 17,000 members across all 50 states. MTNA is widely known for its commitment to advancing music education, supporting professional musicians and teachers, and sponsoring prestigious competitions for young artists at the local, state, and national levels.

Being named a finalist in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition is a significant honor that reflects both technical excellence and artistic maturity. The competition is designed to identify and elevate exceptional young ensembles, and finalists are recognized as some of the most promising chamber musicians in the country. For the Valkyria Quartet, this achievement underscores the depth of their musicianship and the strength of their collaborative artistry.

Winners at the Orvieto Musica 2025 Festival

The quartet’s international success continued this past summer at Orvieto Musica, a three-week intensive festival held in the historic hill town of Orvieto, Italy. The festival is renowned for its blend of world-class faculty, daily coaching, masterclasses, and performances, all set amid medieval architecture, Renaissance art, and vibrant contemporary Italian culture.

Participants not only perform but also engage in deep cultural immersion, exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites, underground caves, and neighboring historic cities throughout Umbria. Faculty artists represent many of the world’s leading institutions and ensembles, including the Metropolitan Opera, London Symphony Orchestra, Paris Conservatoire, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and major American symphonies and universities.

At Orvieto Musica 2025, the Valkyria Quartet distinguished themselves among international peers and emerged as competition winners, an extraordinary accomplishment that highlights their musical insight, ensemble cohesion, and expressive power.

A Source of Pride for LaGrange

The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra is honored to count Rebecca Hall, Elizabeth Bergmann, Eva Ruiz, and Kevin Zapata among our musicians. Their success as the Valkyria Quartet reflects not only their individual talent but also the vibrant artistic spirit and dedication to excellence that define our orchestra community. We are also proud to recognize the guidance of their coach, Samuel Vargas Teixeira—our own concertmaster—whose artistry and mentorship have played an important role in shaping the quartet’s musical growth and achievements, further underscoring the depth of musical leadership within the LSO.

We extend our warmest congratulations to the Valkyria Quartet on these well-deserved achievements and look forward to watching their continued rise on the national and international stage. Their accomplishments inspire us all—and remind us of the extraordinary artistry growing right here within the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra family.