BAE String Quartet at the Bronx Library Center

Violinist and composer EVELYN PETCHER BRANDES brings a passion for innovation and community to both her performing and teaching. Her work frequently blurs the line between performance and workshop; she has performed all over the US and abroad at venues from international concert halls to community spaces like hospitals, museums, and coffee shops. She is a co-founder of Leadlights Ensemble, a community focused string quartet based in Washington Heights, and East Lake Expression Engine, an El Sistema inspired music education program for underprivileged youth in Chattanooga, TN. Evelyn performs regularly with the Bronx Arts Ensemble and Leadlights around NYC, and has been awarded several grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for musical projects. She has served as a teaching artist for organizations such as the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers program, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, the Little Orchestra Society, the Youth Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and LEAP NYC

SAMUEL GRAY is a talented musician in New York City's classical music scene, excelling as a violinist and violist. He serves as concertmaster for Centre Symphony and PROTESTRA, an orchestra focused on social justice. His involvement with groups like Parlando Chamber Orchestra and Bronx Arts Ensemble highlights his dedication to music. Sam has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, believing in music's healing power. He co-founded Mini Masterworks with Anthime Miller to bring chamber music to everyday spaces. Educated by renowned mentors like Ming-Feng Hsin, Gary Kosloski, and others, Sam performs on a 2014 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin, generously lent by Jay and Michiko Jones, adding a unique depth to his sound and expression.

ELISE FRAWLEY is a versatile violist in New York, known for her work in classical, contemporary, and popular music. She has performed with notable orchestras like the Orchestra of St. Luke's and the American Ballet Theatre. As a co-founder of the Atlantic Collective and a member of a viola/piano duo with Nuno Marques, she explores contemporary chamber music. Elise has appeared on shows like Saturday Night Live and America's Got Talent and has collaborated with artists such as Paul Simon and Meghan Trainor. An alumna of the Manhattan School of Music and NYU, she teaches at the 92nd Street Y, Trinity School, and Killington Music Festival, while balancing her career with family life in Manhattan.

ELIANA MENDOZA has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. She received a Diploma in Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. A Winner of the Artists International Competition, she made her solo debut at Weill Recital Hall in New York. Eliana also performed a solo recital on WGBH, National Public Radio in Boston, and reviews from The Enterprise, Brockton, MA have praised her as “…. a total artist…with a fluid touch, an impassioned mood and notable bearing.” Eliana is also a member of the American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra and Westchester Philharmonic.