Quartet Concrète
“[Quartet Concrète] have earned international acclaim for their “exquisite interpretation” and “natural chemistry”. ”
About
Formed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2021, Quartet Concrète is a London-based string quartet celebrated for its exceptional natural chemistry, well-blended acoustic profile, and vivid atmospheric programming.
The ensemble’s rapid ascent within the UK chamber music scene is anchored by winning the 2023 St James’ Chamber Music Competition. Since then, they have performed extensively across the UK and continental Europe, gracing major stages including the Barbican, St James' Piccadilly, Holker Hall, and the Cité Musicale Metz.
The quartet’s technical and artistic evolution has been shaped by some of the world’s most elite chamber musicians. They were selected for the prestigious Hans Keller Chamber Forum (Chamber Studio), receiving intensive residency mentorship from John Myerscough, Alasdair Beatson, and Richard Ireland. As resident string quartet at the Lake District Music Summer Festival, they performed alongside international heavyweights like the Trio Shaham Erez Wallfisch and the Alkyona Quartet, complemented by masterclasses with the Brodsky and Heath Quartets, András Keller, Robert Levin, Candida Thompson, and David Waterman.
Beyond the concert stage, the quartet members are deeply committed educators, working regularly with GYA King’s Cross and leading sessions for the Guildhall School Summer Courses.
Projects
Interdisciplinary & Theatrical Collaborations
Quartet Concrète is a premier choice for high-concept, multidisciplinary collaborations, frequently working with innovative arts organisations such as the NEST. They maintain an ongoing partnership with Ballet Nights, where they seamlessly integrate classical and contemporary string quartet repertoire with live choreography. In 2025, the ensemble achieved widespread critical acclaim for their performance in Tama Matheson’s play Beethoven: I Shall Hear in Heaven at Opera Holland Park, performing Beethoven's masterworks under the musical direction of Jayson Gillham.
Contemporary Music & New Commissions
The quartet is a fierce champion of living and young composers, possessing the exacting technical facility required for complex modern literature. As participants in Quatuor Diotima’s L’Académie Diotima, they performed technically demanding works including Donnacha Dennehy’s The Weather of It and premiered Arnau Gran i Romero’s À vif at the Cité Musicale Metz. Their authority in this space recently culminated in a major international performance highlight at the Opéra national du Rhin.
Bespoke Arrangements & Recital Programmes
At the core of the quartet’s output is a commitment to expanding the string quartet repertoire through internal arrangements. Violist Dominic Stokes creates bespoke transcriptions of works not traditionally written for the medium—such as Bach’s Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh and Paul Mealor’s Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal—which the ensemble toured across the UK in 2025. These curated programs allow the quartet to deliver unique, innovative recitals that bridge the gap between early music, choral traditions, and modern string performance.
News
