Australian String Quartet

Dedicated to musical excellence with a distinctly Australian flavour, the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) creates unforgettable experiences for audiences worldwide.

From our home base at the University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, we reach out across Australia and the world to engage people with an outstanding program of performances, workshops, commissions and education programs.

We are privileged to perform on a matched set of Guadagnini instruments. Hand crafted by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini between c.1743 – 1784 in Turin and Piacenza, Italy, these exquisite instruments were brought together through the vision of Ulrike Klein AO. The instruments are on loan to the ASQ for their exclusive use through the generosity of UKARIA.

The centrepiece of 2019, our National Season, is filled with masterful renditions of the classic repertoire juxtaposed with new works that speak to our Australian identity.

Looking beyond, we are collaborating with acclaimed singer-songwriter Katie Noonan, to record and perform a program of works by ten Australian composers, based on the distinctive poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Our annual ASQ Festivals, Margaret River Weekend of Music and Dunkeld Festival of Music will feature the artistry of special guest musicians, Li-Wei Qin (cello) and Konstantin Shamray (piano) and the launch of ASQ’s first international weekend of music will extend our reach to New Zealand’s breathtaking Central Otago region. We are also excited to be extending our education programs and Close Quarters series to more metropolitan and regional areas across Australia.

At home in South Australia, we continue our work as Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music with projects including our annual ASQ Day at Elder, and performances as part of the Elder Hall Lunchtime Concert series. Mornings at UKARIA will continue to bring the sounds of the string quartet to the beautiful landscape of the Adelaide Hills and a collaboration with didgeridoo master William Barton will celebrate NAIDOC Week at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Dale Barltrop plays a 1784 Guadagnini Violin, Turin
Francesca Hiew Plays a 1748-49 Guadagnini Violin, Piacenza
Stephen King plays a 1783 Guadagnini Viola, Turin
Sharon Grigoryan plays a c.1743 Guadagnini Violincello, Piacenza ‘ Ngeringa’