News

First General Meeting of the VDSQ and invitation to the public concert at the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts. Welcoming speech from the Bavarian Music Council.

Program: Mixed chamber music by members of the Diogenes, Henschel, Leipzig, and Mandelring quartets.

Invitation (PDF, 471 KB)

ensemble Magazin (August/September issue) features a report on the establishment of the VDSQ.

Dr. Marco Frei: "The Association of German String Quartets (VDSQ) came into existence in spring of 2012, the only organisation of its kind in the world.  In its short life it has already achieved a lot and attracted much attention, not only in Germany but also internationally. It is already clear that the foundation of this organisation has set benchmarks that reach far beyond Germany’s borders."

For further information see www.ensemble-magazin.de.

Meeting with the Bavarian Ministry for Science and Research: the head of division secretaries Dr. Herbert Hillig and Dr. Dirk Wintzer and VDSQ president Monika Henschel discuss concrete approaches to new structures for string quartets. The VDSQ is requested to develop and submit sustainable concepts of "ensemble residencies".

Launch: Lark Insurance and the VDSQ announce a new partnership.

Lark Insurance offers a 10% discount exclusively for VDSQ members and VDSQ patron members. Lark Insurance are a world leading broker of musical instrument insurance. Lark Insurance understand the unique needs of musicians and have specifically designed musical instrument policy with you in mind.

For further information see „Cooperation“ or click here.

Launch: The VDSQ and the Anne-Sophie Mutter announce a new partnership and will regularly work on joint programme proposals for quartet ensembles and scholarship students. 

"I wholeheartedly welcome the objectives of the Association of German String Quartets.  I applaud with great enthusiasm and joy this initiative that comes from the very ranks of musicians themselves, because the string quartet, perhaps more than any other type of ensemble, brings into focus what music represents and how it can serve as an inspiring model for other areas of life...So for me, it is a natural response for the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation to cooperate with and support the Association of German String Quartets in its activities, wherever possible." – Anne-Sophie Mutter –

For further information see „Cooperation“ or click here.

The German Music Information Centre adds the VDSQ to its directory. The German Music Information Centre (MIZ) is the central institution for information on music and musical life in Germany. Under the umbrella of the German Music Council the MIZ documents trends and developments in the German musical sphere. It records data and facts and provides background information on key areas within the music world. 

Evan Rothstein, chairman of the European Chamber Music Teachers` Association (ECMTA) and Deputy Head of Strings at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, congratulates the VDSQ and thanks for giving all colleagues a wonderful example of solidarity, shared competence, and truly constructive innovation for the public good.

The internationally highly-influential music magazine, The Strad, publishes a report on the foundation of the VDSQ.

Dr. Norbert Lammert, the President of the German Bundestag, wishes the VDSQ success.

The Association of German Concert Promoters (VDKD, Verband der Deutschen Konzertdirektionen e.V.) welcomes the birth of the VDSQ and wishes it  sucess in all the decisions it will be taking for the benefit of German string quartets. Michael Russ, Chairman of the VDKD, emphasises that the strengthening of the string quartet genre is needed for the long term and has the support of the concert promoters.

Japan’s leading concert hall, Suntory Hall, welcomes the VDSQ.

First meeting of Professor Martin Ullrich, chairman of the Conference of Principals of German Music Conservatories, and VDSQ chairman Monika Henschel. Together with Dr. Thomas Goppel, Chairman of the Bavarian Music Board, initial options for the setting up of an ensemble-residency in Bavaria are drawn up.“Quartets-in-residence” have a long tradition in the English-speaking world, where they form a fundamental pillar of the string quartet landscape. Germany likewise needs to provide opportunities for professional string quartets to earn a basic living by being incorporated into the teaching activities at a given faculty on a part-time basis. Such an arrangement simultaneously benefits the music faculty, the specific location and the federal state, with the ensemble functioning as a cultural ambassador for them.