Adeline Baban (MM ’26) — in photo above, second from right — studied classical violin at MSM with Nicholas Mann and succeeds Tiani Butts as the Ivalas Quartet’s second violinist. Adeline is a Filipina-American violinist, arts leader, and advocate for community-building through music.
The Ivalas Quartet is one of the most visible young string quartets in the U.S., recognized for its artistic excellence and commitment to expanding representation in classical music. Since 2017, the ensemble has built a national reputation for highlighting works by BIPOC composers alongside the traditional classical canon.
“We’re so excited to welcome Adeline Baban to the Ivalas Quartet!” say her new Ivalas Quartet colleagues: first violinist Reuben Kebede (in photo above, on right), violist Marcus Stevenson (in photo, second from left), and cellist Pedro Sánchez (on left).
The group has performed and collaborated with major institutions including the New York Philharmonic, the Juilliard School, Kaufman Music Center, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
A leading advocate for community-building through the arts, Adeline is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Westside Chamber Players, a New York City-based chamber orchestra founded in 2022, and has created programming initiatives for organizations including the Asian American Arts Alliance and Next Festival of Emerging Artists. Her love of chamber music has been greatly shaped by her mentors Nicholas Mann, Peter Winograd, Rebecca Fischer, and Amelia Dietrich.
Ms. Baban holds a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music and a bachelor’s degree from Mannes School of Music.
“Adeline Baban brings a unique combination of artistry, musicianship, imagination, and entrepreneurial spirit to everything she does,” explain her new Ivalas Quartet colleagues. “She has built a career around her belief in the power of music to bring people together and create community. Adeline’s curiosity, creativity, generosity, and infectious energy already feel right at home in Ivalas, and we know she will bring so much to the music, the friendships, and the community we continue to build together.”
Ms. Baban feels equally thrilled about the new partnership: “Getting to know and performing alongside Pedro, Marcus, and Reuben these last few months has been an absolute honor, and I couldn’t be more excited to dive right in as Ivalas Quartet celebrates the incredible milestone of its 10th anniversary this season.”
Adeline performing at MSM in the 2026 MSM Consulate Series celebrating Philippine-American Cultural Exchange, featuring Zodiac Trio in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Philippines .
Nicolas Gonzalez, MSM’S Assistant Vice President for Institutional Culture, reflects on how Adeline was an active member of the MSM Community. “Adeline was driven to connect with the resources and artistic connections during her time at MSM,” he says. “One particular connection that stands out is Adeline attending many events with the Philippine Consulate that MSM hosted, both in the Kundiman: More than a Filipino Love Song concert in 2025 and Celebrating Philippine-American Cultural Exchange concert in 2026. She played a key role in organizing performances for MSM’s new initiative, The Consulate Series, and was one of the recipients of the President’s Office Professional Development Funds to attend SphinxConnect 2026. We are so proud of Adie!”
Adeline poses outside MSM in May 2026 after Commencement, holding her master's diploma.
Hailed for its playing of “tremendous heart and beauty” (The Strad) and the “pure pleasure” of its performances (Steve Smith, Night After Night), the Ivalas Quartet has been changing the face of classical music since 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. They have championed the music of Eleanor Alberga, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Iván Enrique Rodríguez, Alvin Singleton, and George Walker, and premiered Derrick Skye’s Deliverance through a commission from Caramoor and recorded Carlos Simon’s Warmth from Other Suns for Rising Sun Music.
They were the inaugural Fellowship Ensemble of the Kaufman Music Center in New York City and resident ensemble of the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers program in 2025–26, and the 2024–25 Curator/Ensemble of the Schneider Concerts at The New School.
The Ivalas Quartet was the Graduate Resident String Quartet at the Juilliard School from 2022 to 2024, where they studied with the Juilliard String Quartet. They were previously in residence at the University of Colorado-Boulder under the mentorship of the Takács Quartet. In turn, they have devoted themselves to educational and community outreach, working in tandem with such organizations as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New Latin Wave, and countless public schools throughout the U.S.
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