Australian cellist Martin Smith will begin the role permanently in July 2026
The New Zealand String Quartet Trust (NZSQ) has announced the appointment of cellist Martin Smith to the ensemble. Smith will transition into the role over the first half of 2026, beginning permanently in July.
The appointment follows an extensive recruitment process throughout 2025. The roles of cello and violin for the NZSQ were left vacant at the end of 2024 after the departure of two long-standing musicians, Helene Pohl and Rolf Gjelsten.
Smith joins current members violinist Peter Clark and violist Gillian Ansell. Recruitment is in its final stages for the ensemble’s new violinist.
’I am incredibly honoured to be part of this next exciting chapter of the New Zealand String Quartet,” said Smith. ’For nearly 40 years, the NZSQ has been an integral part of the cultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand and has played such a pivotal role in the development of the next generation of young performers and composers.
’I am truly humbled to be welcomed into the NZSQ family and am looking forward to meeting and performing for you all across the country very soon!’
Ensemble members Clark and Ansell described Smith as ‘a wonderful cellist and artist’.
’We know that his deep musical intuition and generosity of spirit will be felt by audiences as soon as they hear him in concert. When the three of us played together for the first time, we felt an immediate musical chemistry - like three old friends sitting down together for dinner.
’The warm, rich tone Martin can produce from his instrument, coupled with his down-to-earth attitude, are things we can’t wait to welcome to our string quartet whānau (family).’
Aislinn Ryan, general manager of the NZSQ Trust, welcomed Smith into the role: ’Martin’s depth of experience across performance, teaching, and community engagement makes him uniquely well-suited to this role, and we’re excited to welcome him to the ensemble.’
Smith received his early training in Sydney, Australia, with Susan Blake and Uzi Wiesel, and furthered his studies in Europe with Hatto Beyerle, Eberhard Feltz, and Natalia Gutman.
Based in Europe for two decades, he has established an international career as a soloist and chamber musician appearing with leading orchestras including the Berliner Kammersolisten, Orchestre de Chambre de Lyon, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, and RTS Symphony Orchestra Belgrade.
His festival appearances include IMS Prussia Cove, Musica Strasbourg, Pablo Casals Prades, Piatigorsky, and Ravinia, and he has been honoured with awards including the Australian Music Foundation, DAAD Künstlerpreis, ECHO Klassik Prize, KPO Young Performer of the Year, and the Marten Bequest Scholarship.
As guest principal cellist, Smith has performed with the Bavarian State Opera, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonia Orchestra London, Royal Opera Stockholm, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, SWR Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, and Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.
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