Russell Houston, praised by the Dallas Morning News for his “intrinsically musical [playing],” is quickly establishing himself as a well rounded musician. Mr. Houston has performed as soloist with orchestras including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and Plano Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has won numerous prizes and awards including top prizes at the Sorantin International Competition, Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, and the Northwestern University Chamber Music Competition. As a member of the Balourdet String Quartet, he received the second prize in the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition in Copenhagen, Denmark. The quartet has performed at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival as well as the Aspen Center for Advanced Quartet Studies. His festival appearances have included the Taos School of Music, Piatigorsky International Cello Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Pyongchang Music Festival, Kneisel Hall, Sarasota Music Festival, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Orford Academy, and the NAC Young Artist Program in Ottawa, Canada. Russell has had the privilege of playing for prominent artists and pedagogues including Timothy Eddy, David Geringas, Frans Helmerson, Ralph Kirshbaum, Ronald Leonard, Laurence Lesser, Johannes Moser, Daniel Müller-Schott, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Janos Starker, and Jian Wang. Russell currently studies with Paul Katz in the Professional String Quartet Program. Houston holds degrees from the Colburn Conservatory, Northwestern University, and Rice University. His primary teachers were Clive Greensmith, Hans Jensen, and Brinton Smith.