b i o

Masso Quartet is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to the commissioning, performance, and democratization of contemporary classical music. While embracing the study and presentation of the classical repertoire, masso is equally committed to the advancement of New music and the creation of relevant, moving, and accessible artistic experiences for audiences.

As a young quartet, Masso was awarded third prize in the 2022 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, was named finalist for the 2023 Fletcher Prize for Outstanding Research (recognizing their study of the legibility of New music), and is currently in residency at the 2023 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, where they hold the Emerging Artist Fellowship.

In their 2022-2023 season, Masso gave over two dozen performances throughout seven cities and five states, with venues ranging from contemporary art galleries and middle schools to peer universities and national conferences. Throughout this season, Masso completed inter-acts, a year-long project examining how compositional narratives can increase legibility in New music— featuring five commissioned works by Midwest-based composers that explored how music can reflect identities, interests, and experiences.  

In their pursuit of developing and interacting with culturally and socially relevant art, Masso has commissioned and collaborated with composers such as Wan Heo, Dave Dagta, Leo Discenza, Shi-An Costello, and Mya Vandegrift, and the ensemble is now developing a new project, to be seen not heard: music about roots, featuring 3-5 new commissioned works, that is anticipated in early 2024.  

m e e t m a s s o

  • Sam Alvarez

    Sam Alvarez is a Chicago-based saxophonist, chamber musician, and tenor chair of Masso Quartet, originally from Austin, Texas. They are interested in finding beauty and meaning on the progressive edge of contemporary music. Sam’s currently finishing their B.M. in Saxophone Performance and English Literature at Northwestern University.

  • Ila Gupta

    Ila Gupta is a Chicago-based saxophonist, chamber musician, and current alto chair of Masso Quartet, originally from Naperville, Illinois. She is most interested musical acoustics and physical perception of sound in contemporary music. Ila is finishing her B.M. in Saxophone Performance and B.A. in Economics at Northwestern University.

  • Isaac Boone

    Isaac Boone is a Chicago-based saxophonist, chamber musician, and soprano saxophonist of Masso Quartet, hailing from Hanover, Indiana. He is dedicated to expanding the saxophone repertory through transcriptions and contemporary classical works. Isaac is finishing his B.M. in Saxophone Performance and Music Education at Northwestern University.

  • Kurt Cox

    Kurt Cox is a Chicago-based saxophonist, chamber musician, and baritone chair of Masso Quartet, joining us from Lynchburg, Virginia. He is committed to creating a space for the saxophone in contemporary classical settings. Kurt recently graduated with his Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Northwestern University. Kurt also holds a B.M. in Saxophone Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory.