Izabella Szałaj-Zimak violin
Elwira Przybyłowska violin
Marek Czech viola
Michał Pepol cello
Shortlisted by the Royal Philharmonic Society as one of the three most outstanding chamber groups to appear in the UK in 2006, the Royal String Quartet was established in 1998 and has since gained a reputation as one of the world's most interesting and dynamically developing string quartets of the young generation. The Royal String Quartet has received numerous awards at competitions, including 1st Prize and the Grand Prix in Casale Monferrato (2000), 2nd Prize in Kraków (2003), Special Jury Prize in Kuhmo, Finland (2004) and 3rd Prize in Banff, Canada (2004). Upon graduation from the Music Academy in Warsaw, the Royal String Quartet worked with the Alban Berg Quartet at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne (2001–2004). The ensemble has also worked with musicians from the Amadeus, Guarneri and Chilingirian Quartets. The Quartet was part of the BBC's New Generation Artists scheme in 2004–2006. Since 2004 the Quartet has run its own chamber music festival in Warsaw, Kwartesencja. This year’s edition will take place from 3 to 7 October and will include artists such as Mark Padmore, Simon Lepper and Silesian Quartet. Kwartesencja has won a wide following and media recognition as the 'Cultural Highlight of Year'. The Royal String Quartet has participated in many festivals in Poland and abroad (BBC Proms, City of London, East Neuk, Lichfield, Aldeburgh, Angela Hewitt's Trasimeno, Next Generation in Dortmund, Valloires) and has performed with such artists as Angela Hewitt, Thomas Allen, Ann Murray, Antoine Tamestit, Christian Poltéra, Freddy Kempf, Cédric Tiberghien, Martin Fröst, Cédric Pescia, Llyr Williams and Ronald van Spaendonck. They have appeared at venues including Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Le Grand Theatre in Bordeaux, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Vienna's Konzerthaus, and the Lutoslawski Hall of Polish Radio, the National Philharmonic and the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The Royal String Quartet’s discography currently consists of 4 CDs and in Spring 2008 it will record its first international CD for Hyperion.
Last updated September 2007
"The Fabryka positively exudes cool relaxation... The auditorium itself is more like a large cellar than a typical chamber music venue - a budding rock band or jazz quartet would readily feel at home there. Which is why the Royal Quartet's decision to launch their festival there in November 2004 might well have seemed daring, even reckless.. But the mix of venue and a handful of enthusiastic players really works, and draws a large appreciative audience of predominantly, but not exclusively, young people. Here, surely, is a classic case of Warsaw's ability to retain its history and respect its architecture and yet brings to it a fresh purpose of relevance to Varsovians and their visitors today"
Daniel Jaffe, BBC Music Magazine September 2006
Project: supporting the Quartet's annual Kwartesencja Festival in Warsaw at the Fabryka Trzciny
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It was one of the most significant events in our musical career to receive the BB Trust Fellowship. The award enables us to attend masterclasses (we still need to learn, although we teach!), to buy new cases for our instruments (the old ones really had hurt our shoulders...). One of the most important things is that it gives us freedom in planning the third edition of our own Chamber Music Festival Kwartesencja in Warsaw (8 -12 November 2006) - as there may be not enough budget from sponsors in Poland on time... The other thing - very important indeed - is the fact that the Trust announces the winners to hundreds of promoters and to the press, and gives first class PR. It is really extraordinary because it introduces us to a huge public all over the world and opens many doors.