ensemble132
Biographie ensemble132
ensemble132
is an American collective of soloists and chamber musicians of the highest caliber, uniting with a shared mission to reimagine the chamber music landscape. The only group of its kind to continually create and premiere new standards in the chamber music repertoire with its artist-crafted arrangements, ensemble132 excites the imagination of audiences across the country with its uniquely genre-defying programs.
At every e132 event, audiences can expect a one-of-a-kind chamber music experience characterized by ensemble132’s versatile artistry and limitless programming possibilities. Chamber ballets, transcriptions of symphonies and jazz standards, and orchestrations of solo works comprise just a few of ensemble132’s programming highlights. Each member of ensemble132’s dynamic roster, all with stellar careers and accolades, brings their unique blend of uncompromising individuality and collaborative spirit to traditional masterworks as well as unearthed gems.
The group’s arrangements have been praised by critics and renowned musicians alike as “Audacious… liberating… illuminating” (Jon Sobel), “absolutely terrific ... a delight … [they] succeed in opening up the sound of the piece in meaningful ways” (Robert McDonald), and “a fresh approach to music that is second to none” (Herbert Greenberg).
The artists of ensemble132 have collaborated closely at music festivals such as Marlboro, Ravinia, Music@Menlo, Verbier, and Taos, and they appear regularly with ensembles such as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Catalyst Quartet, Borromeo String Quartet, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. They are prizewinners at major competitions such as the Paganini, Joseph Joachim, Tibor Varga, Sibelius, Primrose, Beethoven Vienna, Vendome Prize, and American Pianists Awards.
Alongside its traditional concerts, ensemble132 takes a uniquely creative approach to community engagement, sharing the joy of musical creation through interactive workshops. At these events, e132 artists guide listeners in real time through the arranging process. ensemble132 also presents cross-disciplinary programs and innovative educational programs. Most recently, e132 presented a residency at Texas Christian University where ensemble members both coached and played alongside students in mixed groups.
In January 2026, ensemble132 is premiering a new chamber ballet production of Stravinsky’s Petrushka in collaboration with BalletX and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. In 2025, ensemble132 became a STEINWAY ENSEMBLE and was awarded an Artistic Projects Award from Chamber Music America.
Sahun Sam Hong
Hong is a prize winner of numerous international competitions, including the Vendome Prize at Verbier, International Beethoven Competition Vienna, and Naumburg International Piano Competition. In addition to performing, Hong is a prolific arranger and orchestrator, recognized for his innovative transcriptions that are featured in the touring programs of ensemble132, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and Mount Vernon Virtuosi. Hong’s primary mentors have included John Owings, Leon Fleisher, and Yong Hi Moon. He is currently based in New York City, and serves on the faculty of CUNY Queens College. He is a member of the Bowers Program (2024–27) at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Hong is a Steinway Artist.
Zachary Mowitz
An artist who wears many hats, cellist Zachary Mowitz co-founded ensemble132 and the nonprofit Nodality Music and is a member of the SAKURA Cello Quintet and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mowitz made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2018 and continues to perform internationally at venues like the Marlboro Music Festival, Caramoor, Carnegie Hall, and Berlin Konzerthaus. Recognized for his artistry as a chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists such as Jonathan Biss, Joseph Lin, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Ida Kavafian, and regularly plays with the Bach Gamut Ensemble. He has premiered the works of today’s leading composers, including Richard Danielpour, Gabriela Órtiz, Donald Crockett, Angélica Negrón, and Nick DiBerardino. As a teacher and guest lecturer, Mowitz has visited Yale University, the Curtis Institute of Music, Queens College, Western University, and Texas Christian University. Mowitz attended the Curtis Institute of Music, the Royal College of Music, and the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, where he studied with mentors Peter Wiley, Carter Brey, Richard Lester, Jeroen Reuling, and Gary Hoffman.
Abi Fayette
Violinist Abi Fayette, the youngest of four children in a musical family, started her violin studies at age three with her mother. She earned degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory, studying under Ida Kavafian and Soovin Kim respectively. Other principal teachers include Ann Setzer, Kyung-Wha Chung, and Joseph Silverstein. Passionate about chamber music, she has performed with renowned artists such as Jonathan Biss, Brett Dean, Kim Kashkashian, and others. As an active touring musician, Fayette’s performances have taken her all over the world with appearances spanning across the United States, Europe, and Asia. She has toured with Musicians from Marlboro, The Knights, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Currently, she is a member of the Grammy Nominated Catalyst Quartet and serves as Artistic Director of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra of which she is also a member musician. Ms. Fayette performs on a violin made in 1860 by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume generously on loan from Marlboro Music.
Maria Ioudenitch
American-Russian violinist Maria Ioudenitch gained international recognition in 2021 after winning first prizes at the Ysaÿe, Tibor Varga, and Joseph Joachim competitions. In 2023, she received the Opus Klassik Award for Chamber Music Recording of the Year for her Warner Classics debut album, Songbird. Known for her imaginative programming, Maria’s repertoire ranges from Brahms, Britten, and Bernstein to Dvořák, Tailleferre, and Prokofiev.
Highlights of the 2025/26 season include debuts with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Danish Opera Orchestra, Cincinnati and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, and George Enescu Philharmonic. Maria also tours with the Basel Symphony Orchestra and performs recitals at Wigmore Hall and Brucknerhaus Linz with pianist Roman Borisov. A member of ensemble132, she collaborates with leading chamber musicians internationally. Maria studied at the ICM at Park University, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, and Kronberg Academy with Pamela Frank, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Ben Sayevich, Gregory Sandomirsky, Miriam Fried, and Christian Tetzlaff.
Luther Warren
Violinist and violist Luther Warren maintains an active career as a chamber musician and educator. He has appeared alongside many esteemed musicians and at numerous festivals including Ravinia, Yellow Barn, Four Seasons, Caramoor, Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, Olympic Music Festival, Norfolk, and Taos. Luther is a founding member of ensemble132 and has been a regular collaborator with LA-based chamber orchestra Delirium Musicum and a frequent guest with the Borromeo String Quartet. As an educator, Luther is on faculty at New England Conservatory’s Expanded Education division and serves as Director of Junior Division Chamber Music at the Heifetz International Music Institute. He has presented masterclasses and residencies at Queens College, University of Houston, East Carolina University, and Texas Christian University. Luther holds graduate degrees from the New England Conservatory where he has been a student of Miriam Fried, Donald Weilerstein, and Kim Kashkashian.
ensemble132 is a recipient of a 2025 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of The Howard Gilman Foundation, for this recording.
