Formed in 2011, the Castalian Quartet studied with Oliver Wille (Kuss Quartet) at the Hannover University of Music, Dance and Theatre, graduating with a Masters. The Quartet is rapidly emerging as an exciting voice on the international chamber music scene. Over the last three years they have won top prizes at major international competitions including 3rd Prize at the 2016 Banff International Quartet Competition, 1st Prize and three special awards at the 2015 Lyon International Competition, and in 2013 1st Prize and the Audience Prize at the Kammermusik Hannover Next Generation Competition.
The Quartet has performed widely throughout Europe. Engagements this season include recitals at Wigmore Hall, the Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker, the Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung Mittagskonzerte in Hannover, Quartetaffairs in Frankfurt (broadcast by NDR), the Festival de Musique de Conques in France, Festival Autunno Musicale near Naples and Turin Chamber Music Series. The Quartet return to Aldeburgh and will be Artist in Residence at the Festival Musique d'Été à Suzette near Avignon. They continue to give recitals throughout the UK.
Highlights over the last two years have included recitals at the Heidelberger Frühling Quartet Festival, the Ceresio Estate Festival in Lugano, the Hamburg Chamber Music Series, International Musikfest Goslar and NDR Concert Hall in Hannover. In the UK the Quartet has appeared at Jubilee Hall Aldeburgh, the Cheltenham Festival broadcast by BBC Radio 3, Lake District Summer Music, Peasmarsh Festival, Purcell Room and Kings Place. Further afield the Quartet toured China in 2013, under the auspices of the British Council.
The Quartet has been the beneficiary of awards from the Royal Overseas League (2011 Elias Fawcett Trust Award), the Countess of Munster Trust, the Tunnell Trust, the Royal Philharmonic Society (2016 Albert and Eugenie Frost Chamber Music Prize), St. Peter's Eaton Square, Kirckman Concert Society and Mozarteum de France. Earlier this year they were selected for representation by the Young Concert Artists Trust, following the final auditions in the Wigmore Hall.
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