Australian String Quartet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Australian String Quartet is Australia's leading string quartet, and presents an annual program of chamber music throughout Australia and internationally.
Founded in 1985, the ASQ has received critical acclaim both at home and abroad for performances of a diverse range of repertoire, including world premieres of contemporary Australian works. Overseas tours take the quartet to North America, Europe and Asia.
The new ASQ (Tankstream Quartet's Sophie Rowell – first violin, Anne Horton – second violin, Sally Boud – viola, and Rachel Johnston – 'Cello) debuted on 6 November 2006, at the Perth Concert Hall in Perth, Western Australia. The Australian newspaper reviewed this performance as being "a triumph".
Previous members of the ASQ are Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), James Cuddeford (violin), Jeremy Williams (viola), and Niall Brown (cello). Three of whom now belong to the Grainger Quartet.
ASQ presents its own subscription series, performing in all major Australian capital cities. It features guest artists and composers such as Stephen Kovacevich, Brett Dean, Li-Wei, Roger Smalley and Georges Lentz. In addition, ASQ has an extensive regional touring programme and appears at major international festivals in Adelaide, Sydney, Singapore and Austria. It has established its own chamber music festival held annually in Dunkeld, Victoria.
The ASQ regularly broadcasts for ABC Classic FM and is quartet-in-residence at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
