Cuarteto Latinoamericano was formed in 1981 on the initiative of four outstanding Latin American musicians: brothers Saul Bitran, violinist; Aron Bitran, violinist; Alvaro Bitran, cellist; and Javier Montiel, violist. Since then, the ensemble has performed extensively in Mexico, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, South America and the United States. The quartet has special interest in the works by Latin American composer of all periods, and has premiered many string quartets written specifically for them. Reviews of their performances of the traditional, contemporary, and Latin American repertoires have praised the quartet's technical command, warmth, musicality, versatility, and enthusiasm. It is this ability to render with equal success new compositions and traditional masterpieces of the string quartet repertoire that makes the Cuarteto Latinoamericano unique. The members of the quartet are Artists-in-Residence at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Soprano Claudia Montiel was born in Mexico City and studied piano and voice at the National School of Music. She has performed with Repertorio Español and the Amato Opera Company, and in solo recitals in both the United States and Mexico. In 1993 Ms. Montiel was awarded first place in the Carlo Morelli Vocal Competition at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City.