Ten ensembles will compete for the chance to win the top prize package, worth over $500,000, at this year’s competition from 25 to 31 August
The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has announced the ten quartets that will compete in the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC). This marks the 15th edition of the competition, which is held every three years, and will take place at the Banff Centre’s Alberta campus from 25 to 31 August.
The ten competing quartets are (in alphabetical order):
Arete Quartet - Based in Seoul, South Korea
Cong Quartet - Based in Hong Kong, China
Quatuor Elmire - Based in Paris, France
Quartett HANA - Based in Munich, Germany
Quartet KAIRI - Based in Salzburg, Germany
Quatuor Magenta - Based in Paris, France
Myriade Quartet - Based in Montreal, Canada
Nerida Quartet - Based in Bremen, Germany
Poiesis Quartet - Based in Cincinnati, US
Viatores Quartet - Based in Berlin, Germany
The schedule contains four rounds of competition for all ten quartets and a fifth final round for the top three competitors. The Canadian Commission Round will feature a world premiere by composer Kati Agócs titled Rapprochement. New to the 2025 event, the fifth and final round will require finalists to curate their own unique programme of repertoire.
In addition to generous cash prizes, the laureate quartets are offered residency opportunities at Banff Centre. The first prize laureates also receive a custom-designed three-year artistic and career development programme, including: North American touring management overseen by MKI Artists and European touring under Konzertdirektion Hampl; a recording residency; the Southern Methodist University Peak Fellowship Ensemble-in-Residence Prize of a paid residency worth $110,000 CAD; an Esterházy Foundation Residency with concerts at Haydn Hall in Eisenstadt and the Lucerne Festival; and an opportunity for a two-week Chamber Music in Residency at the prestigious Britten Pears Arts in England.
All quartets not advancing to the finals will receive a Christine and David Anderson Prize of $5,000 CAD.
Barry Shiffman, director of BISQC, commented: ’We are looking forward to welcoming ten truly extraordinary string quartets to Banff Centre this summer. The esteemed preliminary jury reviewed a record number of applications from quartets around the globe. These ten quartets they selected now have the chance for a life-changing opportunity that success in Banff can provide.’
Past winners of BISQC include the Isidore Quartet (US, 2022); Marmen Quartet and Viano Quartet (2019); Rolston Quartet (2016); Dover Quartet (US, 2013); Cecilia Quartet (Canada, 2010); Tinalley Quartet (Australia, 2007); Jupiter Quartet (USA, 2004); Daedalus Quartet (US, 2001); Miró Quartet (US, 1998) and, St. Lawrence Quartet (Canada, 1992).
Photo credits: Jino Park, Cheng Kin To, Amaury Viduvier, Junhyung Kim, Saya Ota, Photomorty, Tam Lan Truong, Julia Baier, Eden Davis, Viatores Quartet.
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