Azalea Ensemble is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2012 by a group of talented musicians who shared a passion for chamber music. The ensemble is based in New York City and is known for its innovative programming and dynamic performances. The founding members of Azalea Ensemble are violinist Anna Elashvili, violist Colin Brookes, cellist Serafim Smigelskiy, and pianist Fei-Fei Dong. All four musicians had already established successful careers as soloists and chamber musicians before coming together to form Azalea Ensemble. Anna Elashvili, the ensemble's first violinist, was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, and began playing the violin at the age of four. She studied at the Juilliard School and has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Colin Brookes, the ensemble's violist, is a native of Australia and has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has also been a member of several prominent chamber music ensembles, including the Australian String Quartet. Serafim Smigelskiy, the ensemble's cellist, was born in Ukraine and began playing the cello at the age of six. He has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the New York Philharmonic. He has also been a member of several chamber music ensembles, including the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players. Fei-Fei Dong, the ensemble's pianist, was born in Shenzhen, China, and began playing the piano at the age of five. She has won numerous awards and competitions, including the Concert Artists Guild Competition and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She has also performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic. Since its founding, Azalea Ensemble has performed at many of the world's leading concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. The ensemble has also been featured on many radio and television programs, including NPR's "Performance Today" and WQXR's "Young Artists Showcase." One of the highlights of Azalea Ensemble's career was its performance at the 2014 Mostly Mozart Festival in New York City. The ensemble performed Mozart's Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478, and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The New York Times called the performance "exquisite" and praised the ensemble's "impeccable musicianship." Another highlight of Azalea Ensemble's career was its performance at the 2016 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's "CMS Two" series. The ensemble performed works by Brahms, Dvořák, and Shostakovich, and received a standing ovation from the audience. The New York Times called the performance "thrilling" and praised the ensemble's "passionate and nuanced playing." Azalea Ensemble has also been recognized for its recordings. In 2015, the ensemble released its debut album, "Azalea," which features works by Brahms, Dvořák, and Shostakovich. The album received critical acclaim and was named one of the "Top 10 Classical Albums of 2015" by the New York Times. In addition to its performances and recordings, Azalea Ensemble is committed to education and outreach. The ensemble has conducted masterclasses and workshops for young musicians at schools and universities across the United States.

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