Leonard Fu succeeds Ronald Copes, who steps down after a 28-year tenure
New York’s Juilliard Quartet (JSQ) has announced the appointment of Juilliard alum Leonard Fu as its new second violinist. Fu replaces Ronald Copes, who is stepping down from the ensemble after 28 years in the role and will remain on the Juilliard violin faculty.
Fu has been a teaching assistant at Juilliard and joins the college faculty with this appointment. He joins violinist Areta Zhulla, violist Molly Carr and cellist Astrid Schween.
A graduate of the Juilliard artist diploma programme in 2023, Fu has established a career as a soloist, chamber musician, concertmaster, pedagogue and composer.
His early years in Germany were guided by studies with Lara Lev and Tanja Becker-Bender. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at New England Conservatory (NEC) under the tutelage of Donald Weilerstein and studied at Juilliard with Weilerstein and Catherine Cho.
Fu pursued further professional studies with Antje Weithaas at the Kronberg Academy, supported by the Gingko Foundation. He has served as teaching assistant to Weilerstein at NEC and Cho at Juilliard, where he assisted with both pre-college and college students.
Fu frequently performs his own compositions and has been commissioned for solo and chamber pieces. He is a laureate of numerous international competitions, including the Postacchini, Lipizer, Joseph Joachim, TONALi, Ton & Erklärung, and Schadt competitions.
‘The Juilliard Quartet has profoundly shaped my musical journey – from my precollege studies in Germany with Tanja Becker-Bender, who often spoke of her time studying with JSQ founder Robert Mann (JSQ 1946–96) and shared the quartet’s values, to learning from Ron Copes, Roger Tapping (JSQ 2013–22), and Joel Krosnick (JSQ 1974–2016) in the US,’ commented Fu.
‘It’s an incredible honour to carry forward their legacy…The quartet’s dedication to the full range of string repertoire deeply resonates with me, and I am truly grateful and thrilled to embark on this journey with Areta, Molly, and Astrid!’
Copes described his 28-year tenure with the ensemble as ‘the inspiration of a lifetime.’
‘Through each of the quartet’s incarnations, my colleagues have inspired me and broadened my understanding; I will always be grateful for their generosity, their passion, and their friendship.
‘I know I share with my current colleagues the pleasure and excitement of welcoming Leonard Fu to the JSQ’s continuing adventure. Personally, I look forward to following the quartet’s activities and enjoying its further evolution.’
Zhulla, Carr and Schween acknowledged Copes’s departure, commenting: ‘We offer our deepest gratitude for his immense contributions to the JSQ and the broader world of chamber music.
‘Ron’s intellectual rigour, passionate artistry, and unwavering devotion to mentorship have left an indelible legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. We all offer him our warmest wishes for joy and fulfillment in his next chapter.
‘We are thrilled to welcome violinist Leonard Fu. A passionate musician with an uncommonly rich understanding of the chamber music literature, Leonard brings his brilliant gift for collaboration and infectious creative energy to this new configuration of the Juilliard Quartet. As we look ahead to the future of the JSQ, we are delighted to welcome him!’
Read: Air Canada denies entrance to cellist Amit Peled
The number one source for playing and teaching books, guides, CDs, calendars and back issues of the magazine.
In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.
In the second volume of The Strad’s Masterclass series, soloists including James Ehnes, Jennifer Koh, Philippe Graffin, Daniel Hope and Arabella Steinbacher give their thoughts on some of the greatest works in the string repertoire. Each has annotated the sheet music with their own bowings, fingerings and comments.
The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.
No comments yet