Congratulations to ZaRiah (NCMF ’25), winners of the Grand Prize and Wind Gold Medal at the 2026 Fischoff Competition! 

Founded in 1973 by Joseph E. Fischoff and fellow members of the South Bend Chamber Music Society, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition is the largest and longest running chamber music competition in the US. ZaRiah — composed of flutist Ben Smith, clarinetist Katelyn Poetker, horn player Oved Rico, bassoonist AJ Neubert, and oboist Jamison Hillian — is the first wind quintet to win the Grand Prize since 2002.