The Venus Quartet is an exciting and dynamic group of women who are dedicated to showcasing a rich blend of traditional and contemporary music. The ensemble’s choices in programming reflect the diverse backgrounds and voices of its members. All alumni/current students of Boston Conservatory, they served as the Honors Ensemble for the school's 2024-2025 academic year. They continue to embody Boston Conservatory’s commitment to fostering artistic talent and promoting innovative musical exploration as they perform around New England. Emily Scicchitano (violin), Clara Mazo (violin), Katy Rose Bennett (viola), and Sophie Paul (cello) are the proud members of the Venus Quartet.
About Us
Emily Scicchitano
Emily Scicchitano is a Boston-based violinist whose approach to music-making revolves around emotional expressivity and the exploration of sound. She earned her master’s degree in Violin Performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, studying with Markus Placci. Before that, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from Ithaca College under the mentorship of Calvin Wiersma.
Emily’s musical journey, which places an emphasis on ensemble performance, has been filled with many diverse and gratifying experiences. Currently, she performs as a substitute in the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra in Groton, MA. Before moving to Boston, she served as the concertmaster of the Buffalo Community Orchestra in Buffalo, Minnesota for two years, and also as a season-long substitute of the Sioux City Symphony in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition to her orchestral experience, she is also an active chamber musician.
Emily is a passionate educator who has maintained a private lesson studio for over seven years. This Fall she will begin a teaching residency at the Nantucket Community Music Center where she will teach both private and group lessons to middle school-age young musicians.
Clara Mazo
Violinist Clara Mazo is a recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with her Masters Degree in Contemporary Classical Performance. A daughter of Colombian immigrants, Clara focuses on music reflecting her heritage, crafting programs of music by Hispanic and Spanish composers.
Performances include recitals at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA, Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, and at the Boston Conservatory. As a junior at the Rockport High School, she performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the school orchestra while touring Austria and the Czech Republic. In addition, Clara has participated in many festivals throughout the United States. These festivals have covered a broad range of music from folk to jazz, classical chamber, and orchestral.
A student of contemporary violinist Sharan Leventhal, Clara has premiered and recorded new works by composers from around the world. While she enjoys playing works from the standard repertoire, her passion for championing compositions by underrepresented composers is what fulfills her most as an artist.
Katy Rose Bennett
Violist/violinist Katy Rose Bennett enjoys performing in a variety of genres and ensembles. Classically trained in Nashville, Bennett learned an appreciation of all styles, from fiddle to classical music, at a young age. She continues blending disciplines as violist of the Venus Quartet while performing as an active violinist in ensembles such as the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and acting as Assistant Concertmaster for Firebird Pops Orchestra 2025-2026 season. Katy Rose graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Boston Conservatory, where she studied with Lynn Chang. She is currently working towards a Master of Music in Viola Performance at her alma mater under the instruction of Rictor Noren.
Sophie Paul
Originally from Salem, Oregon, cellist Sophie Paul is an avid chamber musician, passionate educator, and advocate for contemporary music. She earned her Bachelor of Music at the University of Puget Sound, studying with Alistair MacRae, and her Master of Music at the Boston Conservatory under the guidance of Rhonda Rider. Currently based in Boston, Sophie performs with ensembles including the Venus Quartet, Beacon Ensemble, and the Apollo Orchestra. Sophie has held fellowships with music festivals including the Bach Institute at Emmanuel Music, Music from Salem Chamber Music Festival, and the Harvard Chamber Music Festival, and spent four summers as a student at the Brevard Music Center. As an educator, Sophie has held faculty positions at Cappella Music Academy, Camp Encore/Coda, and The Conservatory at Highlands, where she currently maintains a cello studio of all ages.