Stamps String Quartet Class of 2014

Amanda Diaz, viola, majored in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where she was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps String Quintet, Class of 2014. She studied privately with Pamela A. McConnell.

As a member of the Stamps Strings Quartet, Diaz performed in the Texas Music Educators Clinic in San Antonio, the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar in New York City, and twice at the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy.  She also performed regularly in chamber music concerts throughout South Florida.  Diaz participated in multiple coaching sessions with musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra and performed with the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Frost Opera Theater, Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, and other major Frost School ensembles.  She performs frequently in chamber music concerts at churches and venues throughout South Florida.

A pianist since the age of five, violinist since age seven, and violist since the age of nine, Diaz was born in Miami and is a graduate of New World School of the Arts (NWSA). Upon graduation from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Amanda Diaz accepted a scholarship to pursue a Master of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Mark Jackobs.

Arianne Urban, violin, majored in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where she was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps String Quintet, Class of 2014. She studied privately with Scott Flavin and Glenn Basham and also performed in the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Frost Opera Theater, Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, and other major Frost School ensembles. The Stamps String Quartet Class of 2014 performed classic and contemporary string quartet repertoire, tangos, jazz-inspired works, and more, while also collaborating on new chamber music with the Stamps Jazz Quintet.

Arianne Urban has participated in coaching sessions with string musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra and violinist and composer Mark O’Connor. Her summer festival experiences include Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, the Aspen Music Festival, Orfeo International Music Festival and the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar in New York City. 

Urban was born in Miami and graduated from New World School of the Arts (NWSA) in 2010. Upon graduation from the University of Miami Frost School of Music in May 2014, Arianne Urban continued her musical studies as a M.M. scholarship student at DePaul University in Chicago, studying with Janet Sung.

Christopher Young, cello, majored in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where he was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps String Quintet, Class of 2014. The Stamps String Quartet performed classic and contemporary string quartet repertoire, tangos, jazz-inspired works, and more. Chris Young also performed in the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Frost Opera Theater and the Frost School’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, as well as chamber groups throughout the South Florida region. He studied privately with Ross Harbaugh.

As a member of the Stamps Strings Quartet, Young performed at the Texas Music Educators Clinic, and with the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar in New York City, and the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy. He has collaborated with artists Alexander Markov, Mark O’Connor, Pavel Vernikov, Eli Matthews of the Cleveland Orchestra, and hip-hop producer Chip Williams.

Chris Young was born in Santa Maria, California and grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy. Upon graduating from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Christopher Young was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Master of Music degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Richard Aaron.

Victor Colmenares, violin, majored in Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps String Quintet, Class of 2014. He studied privately with Glenn Basham. He participated in coaching sessions with musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra and Frost artist-in-residence Mark O’Connor and performed in the Frost Symphony Orchestra and the Frost School’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

As a member of the Stamps Strings Quartet, Colmenares performed in the Texas Music Educators Clinic in San Antonio, the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar in New York City, and twice at the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy.  He also performed regularly in chamber music concerts throughout South Florida.

Victor Colmenares was born in Columbia and began playing the violin at age 6. He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy. Upon graduation from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Victor Colmenares was offered a teaching assistant position by University of Oklahoma, where he is pursuing a Master’s of Music degree and is studying with Hal Grossman.