Caro String Quartet
First established in 2009, Sydney based Caro String Quartet consists of musicians, Catalin Ungureanu, Airena Nakamura, Neil Thompson and Kenichi Mizushima. With all four members working with the Opera Australia Orchestra (previously known as the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra) at the formation of the group, the String Quartet was born from their desire to perform music, not only of Opera, Ballet and occasional Symphonic repertoire, but to play the vast, brilliant and inspiring repertoire of string quartet music.
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As full time orchestral musicians, their passion for chamber music compels them to find the time to get together around their busy schedules to prepare and perform concerts regularly. This dedication may be the reason why they have been acclaimed for their dynamic energy, passion and well considered interpretations.
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As well as performing in their own concert series, Caro String Quartet has enjoyed collaborating with other musicians in various ensembles including the Rivendell Recital Series, The Omega Ensemble, Ensemble Vinefera, Opera Gala Concerts, and in Recital Concerts at Opera Australia.
Caro String Quartet has performed a String Quartet Concerto, Rave of the Nightingale by Mathew Hindson, with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Briger. The Quartet have enjoyed performing in regional towns and has also toured Queensland.
Catalin Ungureanu
A graduate of the George Enescu Conservatory, Romania, Catalin also studied in Germany and has toured Europe extensively with the Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra. Catalin was 2nd prize winner in the Golden Lyra Award, Romania and in Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia. He was awarded the Special Prize for his performance in Subiaco, Italy. He has been a member of La Camerata Chamber Orchestra, and is currently Principal first violin with the Opera Australia Orchestra.
Airena Nakamura
Airena was born in Japan and moved to Sydney where she began her violin studies with her father Yasuki Nakamura. After completing her Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours, Airena continued her studies in Germany and USA and has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants. Airena has toured extensively with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Since 2005, Airena has been with the Opera Australia Orchestra where she currently holds the position of Principal Second Violin.
Neil Thompson
Having begun on viola in his hometown Whyalla, Neil's career has taken him all around the world, including Europe as touring soloist whilst at Marryatville High School, a ‘Special Interest Music Centre’ school (Adelaide). Neil has also performed and toured with the Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras (upon holding an SSO fellowship in 2012), as well as with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and its sister orchestra ACO2 (currently ACO Collective) with whom he was an ‘Emerging Artist’. He enjoyed two years of touring with ‘The Cat Empire’ and features as soloist and guest artist on their DVD ‘Live at the Bowl’. Neil regularly performs at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra for Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet.
Kenichi Mizushima
Kenichi was born in 1986 in Sydney, and began his cello lesson at the age of two and a half with Takao Mizushima, his father, later on from 15 years of age with cellist Zoltan Szabo and has appeared as a soloist on many occasions since he was five. Kenichi has toured Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Italy, England, Singapore, USA, Germany and New Zealand both as a soloist and an ensemble musician. Kenichi plays regularly as a cellist of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and is currently the cellist for the Caro String Quartet.
