Cuarteto LatinoAmericano will not return as an ensemble-in-residence at Carnegie Mellon University as the School of Music tries to erase a $150,000-$200,000 budget deficit.

"The school has run a large deficit for a number of years and it is up to me to rein that in," said Noel Zahler, the head of the School of Music.

Saul Bitran

Ending the relationship with the quartet is one of "a great number of changes coming at the school," he added. "You have to make tough decisions, and this certainly was a tough decision. Cuarteto only comes four times a year. I had to weigh that with the cost."

The quartet -- comprised of brothers Saul, Aron (violinists) and Alvaro Bitran (cellist) and violist Javier Montiel -- joined CMU in 1988 as faculty members. In 1994, they left the tenure track and became visiting artists, with an annual agreement for services including teaching and concerts.

"We are in shock," said Saul Bitran, who said the Mexico City-based quartet was forced to cancel plans for its four annual engagements here, including concerts with guitarist David Tanenbaum, pianist Sergey Schepkin and flutist Stephen Schulz, and at the U3 Festival in March 2009. A recording for Mode Records of Schoenberg also was scuttled.

But Saul Bitran acknowledged that CMU did "nothing legally wrong. We signed year to year. We renewed verbally or signed a letter, but not a formal contract." He said Cuarteto stands to lose about $50,000 by not working for CMU next year. The quartet remains in residence at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and tours internationally.

Zahler, who was hired last July, said the School of Music's total budget is about $5 million and that tough decisions like this come with the territory of being the head of a school. "I have always tried to [work within the school's budget] because when you run a fiscally sound program, it makes it easier to raise funds."

While Saul Bitran said that the musicians "were not expecting to be there forever," he is unhappy with the manner in which the news was delivered and the lack of communication from Zahler. "We were there in Pittsburgh four times the last year, and he never approached us about it," said Saul Bitran. "During the year we made plans for the next season as we always do. But then we got this letter."

"I did consult with string faculty regarding this," countered Zahler. "There was not any hesitation on their part. My way is not to do things like this, and I regretted it enormously. Unfortunately the only time they were there and I was there was just once this year. If I have the opportunity I would certainly hope to have a face to face about it. I don't think those things are done well over the phone.

"There was no malice of forethought here. We respect the quartet, we believe they have served us well for years, and we wish them well and we hope they will return again."

Saul Bitran will miss the residency.

"For us, Pittsburgh is a very dear place, where our children were born and grew up, where we always received support and love and where the Cuarteto grew and matured." He added that the group brought in musical luminaries such as Janos Starker, Manuel Barrueco, Steven Stucky, Yehuda Hanani and "practically all notable musicians in CMU and in town.

"We are deeply grateful to this city and to Carnegie Mellon University."