First Prize winner of the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, the National Sphinx Competition, and Gold Medalist at the Manhattan International Music Competition, violist Paul Laraia has established a distinguished international career. Acclaimed by The Strad for his "eloquent" and "vibrant" playing, Laraia has performed as a soloist with major orchestras like the Pittsburgh Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and Filharmonica de Bogata, and at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Kennedy Center. His string quartet, Catalyst Quartet, serves as artists-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and he collaborates with luminaries including Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell.