Harlem Quartet’s search builds to crescendo (Photo 6 of 12) - Pictures

Melissa White reads a text message while Ilmar Gavilan (left) and Juan Miguel Hernandez prepared for their performance. The Harlem Quartet, part of New England Conservatory's highly competetive master quartet program, had a trying year looking for replacements for 2 of their members.

Melissa White read a text message while Ilmar Gavilán (left) and Juan Miguel Hernandez prepared for their performance on March 17, 2012. The Harlem Quartet, part of New England Conservatory's highly competitive master quartet program, had a trying year looking for replacements for two of their members.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |

Matt Zalkind watches the Harlem Quartet perform. He auditioned to be the group's cellist earlier in the day.

Matt Zalkind watched The Harlem Quartet perform. He auditioned to be the group's cellist earlier in the day.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |

for G - 19quartet - Juan Miguel Hernandez and Melissa White walk down to the performance room, a gallery space at Antioch College. The Harlem Quartet, part of New England Conservatory's highly competetive master quartet program, performed at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio on March 17, 2012. The quartet's current cellist, Paul WIancko, has decided to leave the quartet. (Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe)

Hernandez, White, and Wiancko walked down to the performance room, a gallery space at Antioch College, on March 17, 2012.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |

Paul Katz , the NEC faculty member who founded the quartet program, talks to the Harlem Quartet during their practice on February 16, 2012.

Paul Katz, the New England Conservatory faculty member who founded the quartet program, talked to The Harlem Quartet during their practice on Feb. 16, 2012.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff |

Melissa White prepared for a peformance while Juan Miguel Hernandez danced around her on March 17, 2012.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |

Melissa White laughed during the audition of a new member, a cellist, on March 1, 2012.

Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff |

The Harlem Quartet's temporary cellist Ismar Gomes and violist Juan Miguel Hernandez rehearsed before a concert at Tannery Pond in New Lebanon, N.Y., in August 2012.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe |

The Harlem Quartet's first violinist Ilmar Gavilán played a solo as second violinist Melissa White looked on during a concert at Tannery Pond in New Lebanon, N.Y.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe |

Members of the Harlem Quartet with temporary cellist Ismar Gomes (left,) finished a concert at Tannery Pond in New Lebanon, NY on August 4, 2012.

Members of The Harlem Quartet with temporary cellist Ismar Gomes (left), finished a concert at Tannery Pond in New Lebanon, N.Y., on Aug. 4, 2012.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe |

Jaime Amador from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the new violist in The Harlem Quartet. He will move to New York and replace Juan Miguel Hernandez.

Ricardo Arduengo/Associated Press for the Boston Globe |

Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White eat lunch with cellist candidate, Matt Zalkind at Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Zalkind will replace Paul Wiancko.

Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White ate lunch with cellist candidate Matt Zalkind at Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Zalkind will replace Paul Wiancko.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |

The Harlem Quartet stops to talk after loading their van, ending a long day of rehearsel and performance. Melissa White, Illmar Gavilán and Matt Zalkind will be playing together in the new quartet. Jaime Amador will be the fourth.

The Harlem Quartet stopped to talk after loading their van, ending a long day of rehearsal and performance. Melissa White, Illmar Gavilán, and Matt Zalkind will be playing together in the new quartet. Jaime Amador will be the fourth.

Andrew Spear for The Boston Globe |