The "Royal String Quartet" is an ensemble that was formed in 1998 at the Akademia Muzyczna im. F. Chopina / Frederick Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw.
The "Royal String Quartet":
- Izabella Szałaj-Zimak (1st violin)
- Elwira Przybyłowska (2nd violin)
- Marek Czech (viola)
- Michał Pepol (cello)
Initially, its members perfected their skills under the guidance of the chamber musicians of the "Camerata" and "Wilanów" quartets. Its tone was most influenced, however, by the world famous "Alban Berg Quartett", which aided the "Royal String Quartet" in perfecting its skills until 2004 under a program of postgraduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. The masters of the Alban Berg Quartett play an essential role in shaping the music of The "Royal String Quartet" to this day.
In May of 2004, BBC Radio invited the "Royal String Quartet" to take part in "BBC New Generation Artists," a two-year program aimed at promoting talented young artists from around the world. Under the program, the ensemble will enjoy extensive promotion, participate in the world's largest and most prestigious festivals, complete recordings of its music, receive the support of a music agency and make joint appearances with other musicians in the program. The ensemble has also received an offer to be the "Quartet in Residence" at London's famous Wigmore Hall beginning in 2006.
One of the most extraordinary events in the quartet's career took the form of a special concert appearance before Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Royal Family, as well as President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski and the First Lady, during the official visit of the President of Poland in Great Britain in May of 2004. In the same year, the "Royal String Quartet" performed recitals at the Studio Koncertowe Polskiego Radia im. Witolda Lutosławskiego / Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Concert Studio and at the Filharmonia Narodowa / National Philharmonic. In September of 2004 Warsaw's Fabryka Trzciny / Trzcina's Factory hosted the first edition of the Festiwal "Kwartesencja" / "Quartessence" Festival, which was organized by the "Royal String Quartet" and featured the ensemble in appearances with invited guests.
In spite of possessing a busy concert schedule, the members of the "Royal String Quartet" nevertheless find time to further their education and artistic development. Each year the musicians take part in master classes organized for string quartets around Europe. The ensemble has worked with the world's most outstanding chamber musicians from quartets like "Amadeus", "Guarneri", "New Helsinki", "Chilingirian" and "Israel", and has perfected its skills under Avi Avramovich, Professor of the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem.
In July of 2004, the "Royal String Quartet" received the Special Jury Prize and the "Rondo Music Magazine Award" at the 1st International String Quartet Competition in Kuhmo, Finland. The ensemble also garnered a 3rd prize at the 13. Międzynarodowy Konkurs Muzyki Kameralnej im. Kiejstuta Bacewicza / 13th International Kiejstut Bacewicz Chamber Music Competition in Łódź (1998), a 1st prize and the Grand Prix at the 9th International Carlo Soliva Competition in Casale Monferrato in Italy (2000) and a 2nd prize at the 7. Międzynarodowy Konkurs Współczesnej Muzyki Kameralnej / 7th International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition in Krakow (2003). The ensemble also won distinction at the Festiwal im. Bronisława Hubermana / Bronislaw Huberman Festival in Warsaw (2002). The "Royal String Quartet" has received numerous scholarships, from the Minister of Culture, the Amadeus Scholarship Fund and the Fundacja Kultury/ Foundation for Culture. In 2004 the quartet was nominated for the prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.
The "Royal String Quartet" devotes the greatest attention to the works of the Viennese Classicists. Music of the Romantic era also occupies an important place in its repertoire, and the musicians hardly avoid works composed during the 20th and 21st centuries.
In 2002 the "Royal String Quartet" released its debut album, recorded and published by the Dux label. This album went on to receive a nomination for the "Fryderyk" Polish Music Award. One year later, the Sony Classical label released the ensemble's second album, this one containing its renditions of the tangos of Astor Piazzolla. The album, recorded in tandem with accordionist Klaudiusz Baran, garnered the ensemble the "Fryderyk 2003" Polish Music Award in the camber music category. The quartet's concerts have been broadcast by Program 2 of Polish Radio and by Polish Radio Bis, and in 2003 the "Royal String Quartet" completed recordings for radio stations in Romania and Moldova. The ensemble appears in concert regularly in Poland and abroad; its international tours take it to Great Britain, Austria (the Konzerthaus in Vienna), Holland, Romania, Moldova, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania, as well as the United Arab Emirates.
Official website of Royal String Quartet: www.royalstringquartet.pl
Prepared on the basis of materials provided by Royal String Quartet; last updated: July 2004.