“Spring 4ward” - London String Quartet Week
3rd - 8th April 2005

Neville Abraham, Chairman of The London String Quartet Foundation, is delighted to announce the details of London String Quartet Week 2005. The aim of the London String Quartet Foundation is to promote the discovery and development of talent and audiences for the string quartet through musical and educational events at which both established and younger talented string quartets are show-cased - and this year is no exception. London String Quartet Week 2005 takes place from 3rd April to 8th April 2005 at venues across the historic City of London under the artistic direction of Mark Messenger, Head of Strings at the Royal College of Music.

True to its renowned spirit of diversity, events planned for London String Quartet Week 2005 include the final of the first ever National Youth String Quartet Competition, jointly organized with Pro Corda and open to anyone under the age of 22 who is studying in the UK; a day of musical adventures for the whole family; public master-classes and workshops; free lunchtime concerts and the 20th anniversary concert of the celebrated Wihan Quartet. The Quartet will also act as jury for the Youth Competition, giving valuable hints and feedback to each of the finalists.

The preliminary rounds of the first ever National Youth String Quartet Competition take place during Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April 05 after which the week’s events begin in earnest.

Wednesday 6th April 05 features “Adventures in Music”, a fun day of musical activities, workshops and performances for children of all ages and their parents/carers at the famous Museum of London. This is followed in the evening by the National Youth String Competition Final at the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Hall, where three finalists will compete for first prize.

Thursday 7th April 05 comprises workshops and master-classes throughout the day at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as well as the opportunity to hear two of the Youth Competition finalists in lunchtime concerts at St Michael’s Church, Cornhill and St Anne and St Agnes’ Church, Gresham St. The culmination of the day’s events is the Wihan Quartet’s 20th Anniversary Concert at St Giles’ Church, Cripplegate, Fore St, London EC2 at 7pm. The Wihan Quartet won both the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Fifth International String Quartet Competition in 1991 and this anniversary concert will mirror the Quartet’s winning programme at that time. This remarkable Czech quartet was founded in 1984 and still boasts its original line-up. Over the past 20 years it has achieved an enviable reputation for outstanding performances in concert and on CD and for its inspirational teaching of young quartets. The Evening Standard wrote of the Wihan Quartet: “They play with one mind, singing tone and with fine tuning”.

Finally, Friday 8th April 05 will focus on a series of master-classes as well as a further lunchtime concert by Youth Competition finalists. Full details of events, times and venues are contained in the enclosed flyer.

Commented Artistic Director, Mark Messenger: “I am thrilled that London String Quartet Week 2005 once again brings together a plethora of talent and an accessible approach to the wonderful world of the string quartet. “Youth” is one of the main strands of this year’s festival. We have the finals of the first ever National Youth String Quartet Competition; we take over the Museum of London for a fun family day and the acclaimed Wihan Quartet gives its 20th anniversary concert – all in the famous City of London. I do hope you can join the London String Quartet Foundation for this dynamic festival”.

Furthermore, The London String Quartet Foundation is pleased to advise that the dates for its renowned International Competition, held triennially, will be 4-9th April 2006.

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