In fourteen years of its existence our festival has presented the first U.S. performance of mezzo-soprano Julia Bernheimer, the first lieder recital of baritone Gordon Hawkins, the first U.S. performance of The Vienna Schubert Trio and the first performance in the nation's capitol of The Auryn Quartett and The Vienna Piano Trio. The festival has seen the performance of such distinguished artists as cellist David Soyer, violinist Arnold Steinhardt, pianist Peter Orth, violinist Ida Levin, The Mendelssohn Quartet, The Artis Quartett, The Haydn Trio - Vienna, The New World String Quartet, flutist Carol Wincens and guitarist Frederic Hand. The Auryn Quartett is the quartet in residence of the festival and returns annually to perform at Schubert, Schubert and Schubert.