John Crowley

John Crowley, 22, is a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance. John is the winner of Eastman’s 2023 Viola Concerto Competition, and he subsequently made his solo debut with the Eastman Philharmonia performing the Walton Viola Concerto in November of 2023. In 2024, he was awarded Eastman’s selective Performer’s Certificate. He is currently studying at the Juilliard School in the studio of Carol Rodland. As a chamber musician, John is the founding violist of the Maple Quartet, which has twice been awarded Eastman’s Celentano String Quartet Award. The quartet was the alternate winner of the 2025 Frances Walton Competition, and were finalists at the 2025 Coltman Chamber Music Competition and the 2025 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, where they received an honorable mention for their performance. The quartet has performed as soloists with Voce Velata, and has collaborated with Chiao-Wen Cheng and Robin Scott. John has performed with the New York Philharmonic and served as principal violist of Eastman Philharmonia. His festival appearances include fellowships at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Madeline Island Chamber Music, Encore Chamber Music Institute, and the National Orchestral Institute. John studied viola with Phillip Ying and chamber music with the Ying Quartet, the Verona Quartet, Mimi Hwang, Masumi Per Rostad, and David Bowlin. He is originally from the Capital District of New York, where he studied viola with Sue Nazzaro. He performs on a viola made by Guy Rabut in 2023, and a bow made by Sue Nazzaro in 2024. In his free time, John enjoys composing, hiking, cycling, skiing, playing chess, and eating good food.

The Maple Quartet was formed in 2022 at the Eastman School of Music by members Isabel Chen, Magali Pelletey, John Crowley, and Gabriel Hennebury. During their time at Eastman, the Maple Quartet earned the Celentano String Quartet Award twice, an honor recognizing an undergraduate string quartet of outstanding ability and supporting their professional growth. This recognition enabled them to compete in national chamber music competitions like the 2025 Frances Walton Competition, where they were named alternate winners. Other accolades include an honorable mention at the 2025 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, and reaching the finals of the 2025 Coltman Chamber Music Competition. In pursuit of their studies, the Quartet has been incredibly fortunate to receive instruction from esteemed ensembles and artists such as the Takács Quartet, Belcea Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, Calidore Quartet, JACK Quartet, Misha Amory, Peter Oundjian, Peter Salaff, Peter Winograd, Peter Slowik, Itamar Zorman, and Jesse Mills. They have also collaborated with notable musicians such as Robin Scott, Chiao-Wen Cheng, Jonathan Swartz, and Wendy Chen. Their primary mentors have included members of the Ying and Verona Quartets, as well as professors Mimi Hwang, David Bowlin, and Masumi Per Rostad. The ensemble is particularly grateful to the Ying Quartet for inspiring their passion, growth, and dedication as a chamber group. For Performance examples, visit https://maple-quartet.com/