ABOUT THE QUARTET
Dedicated to providing music for all
The NJYS Quartet was founded in 2011 by a group of musicians in New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS). Starting as a creative outlet to develop musical expression, the NJYS Quartet quickly became NJYS's premier ensemble, representing NJYS at galas, events, and community outreach performances.
THE MEMBERS
2016-2017
Each member of the quartet is selected based on leadership and musical abilities. Former quartet members have continued their studies at prestigious institutions like Juilliard, Colburn, Yale, Brown, Stanford, and University of Chicago. The quartet studies with Milan Milinkovic and Philip Setzer of the Emerson Quartet and has performed in Vienna, Carnegie Hall, and MPAC.
Emily Wang
Violin 1
Emily Wang, 17, is a senior at Union County Magnet High School and studies violin with Deborah Buck, first violinist of the Lark Quartet.  Other mentors include Weigang Li of the Shanghai Quartet, Duoming Ba of the New York Philharmonic, and Brennan Sweet of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Emily has served as concertmaster and principal violist in the New Jersey Youth Symphony as well as in other orchestras. She has received awards from competitions such as the NJYS Concerto Competition and the Summit Symphony Concerto Competition, among others. Emily has played in venues such as Musikverein, Kennedy Center, Stern Auditorium, the National Arts Club, and Wiener Konzerthaus. She has attended Yellowbarn YAP, Music@Menlo, and  Kinhaven.
In her free time, Emily enjoys watching soccer, writing, and food.
Sasha Kandybin
Violin 2
Sasha Kandybin, 17, attends New Providence High School and has been studying violin since he was in second grade, and currently attends the Manhattan School of Music precollege program, studio of Wu Jie, and Xiao Wang. He is also studying conducting in the studio of Jonathan Strasser and Nell Flanders. He became a Concerto Competition winner of MSM Symphony Orchestra this past year and performed as a soloist in May of 2016. He has also attended many summer music festivals, including Music in the Mountains, and the Cremona International Music Festival. For the last three summers, he attended Manhattan in the Mountains chamber music program. Sasha has been part of New Jersey Youth Symphony since 5th grade. He has been in Youth Symphony for the last four years, where he is currently co-concertmaster. He has performed in such venues as New Jersey Performing Arts Center, MPAC, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., Smetana Hall in Prague, Musikverein in Vienna, and many others.
Annie Wu
Viola
Annie Wu, 16, is a junior at the Union County Academy for Allied Health Sciences and studies viola with Brett Deubner of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She is a member of New Jersey Youth Symphony, New York Youth Symphony, and NAfME All Eastern Orchestra and is a viola coach at Paterson Music Project. Annie has attended Manhattan in the Mountains and will be attending Music@Menlo. Her hobbies include oil painting, wandering through museums, exploring new places, and searching for cookie shops.
Dan Wey
Cello
Dan Wey, 17, is a junior at Ridge High School and studies cello with Gerall Hieser of the Madison String Quartet. He has served as principal cellist for New Jersey Youth Symphony and has played with the New Jersey All State Orchestra and FEA Orchestra. Dan has performed in venues such as NJPAC, Carnegie Hall, and Kennedy Center. In his spare time, Dan enjoys playing basketball, reading, and watching F1 Racing.