Royal Academy of Music String Quartets

Get ready for an amazing night with the Royal Academy of Music String Quartets! Experience the magic of live string quartet performances in person. Enjoy beautiful melodies, incredible talent, and a cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for music lovers. Whether you’re a classical fan or just curious, this event promises an unforgettable evening filled with stunning harmonies and passionate playing. Don’t miss out on this musical treat!

Idalia Quartet and Sostenuto Quartet play Haydn

Haydn String Quartet Op 64 No.3

Haydn: String Quartet Op. 76 No.6

Sostenuto Quartet

2024-25 Biography

Andreas Alexander Martinsen, violin / Bjørg Pas, violin / Kristin Pas, viola / Frida Leanne Rogn, cello

Based in London at the “Royal Academy of Music”, the Sostenuto Quartet is a nationally recognized and expressive Norwegian string quartet, consisting of four young musicians with a passion for creativity and vivacity. Despite their young age, the quartet has already developed a mature, deep sound and a nuanced musicality, something that highly contributed to their victory in one of Norway’s most recognized national competitions, The Midgard National Music Competition, in 2022.

The Sostenuto Quartet has attended multiple programs and academies throughout the years. Amongst others, the Danish String Quartet Academy, Arena:Klassisk and Oslo Quartet Series’ “Young Quartet Series”; a program which has offered them the opportunity to perform on several of Norway’s largest stages, alongside some of the world’s most promising string quartets. These opportunities have later led them to receive numerous masterclasses from quartets such as the Doric String Quartet, the Danish String Quartet and Oslo String Quartet.However, one of the greatest points of their career was not one led by instruction, but rather by performing; as can be seen when they in spring 2024 successfully executed their national Norwegian tour, traveling around Norway performing their own concert series “Conflicting Harmony”. Presenting pieces by Debussy, Glass and the Danish String Quartet, alongside a poem from Arnulf Øverland, this was a series highly focused on promoting a various program revolving around the relevance and importance of culture in some of the world’s most discussed issues: war and poverty. Their success has later contributed to their attendance in multiple festivals throughout Scandinavia; most proclaimed the “Horten Chamber Music Festival” and the “Bornholm Chamber Music Festival”. The quartet is currently based in London, studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Sincestarting at the Academy, they have been accepted to the Frost A.S.S.E.T. scheme, receiving coachingand guidance from world renowned professors, as well as various performance opportunities. They have been working particularly closely with members of the Castalian String Quartet, the Danish String Quartet and the Fibonacci String Quartet. Recent performances include a performance in the Wigmore Hall as part of the Royal Academy of Music Soloists ensemble, performing «Arcadiana» by Thomas Adès in a masterclass given by Adès himself and a collaboration between students from the Julliard School and The Royal Academy of Music performing in the Royal Albert Hall (London) and Lincoln Square (New York). For continuing their musical career, the Sostenuto Quartet has received various scholarships from funds viz. Anders Sveeas Almennyttige Fond and Axel Byes legat. They are currently studying with Prof. Sini Simonen and Prof. Tim Frederiksen, while regularly receiving lessons from members of the Doric String Quartet

Idalia Quartet Biography:

Formed at the Royal College of Music Junior Department in 2022, the Idalia Quartet is currently comprised of scholarship students at the Royal Academy of Music. They were one of three quartets selected for the RAM Advanced Specialist String Ensemble Training Scheme 2024-25 and 2025-26, generously funded by the Frost Trust, and are mentored by Alex Redington of the Doric String Quartet.

Last year the quartet was awarded first prize in the Wolfe Wolfinson competition at the Royal Academy of Music for their performance of Schumann’s 1st quartet. In May 2025 they performed at the Petworth Proms festival, and in June made their debut in Dordogne, France, after being selected for the Ferrandou Musique Residency, where they performed 6 string quartets across 3 evening concerts. A performance as part of the International Music Festival Vitoria-Gasteiz in Bilbao preceded their return to France in August, where they were selected to represent the Academy in a week of masterclasses with Johannes Meissl, and performed alongside other accomplished string quartets in Saint Jean de Côle.

Previous contemporary projects include giving the UK premiere of Steven Goss’ guitar quintet ‘Wynwood Walls’ in February 2023. In October 2024, they made their debut as part of the Academy Manson Ensemble, performing a completely contemporary programme which included the world premiere of ‘Substrata’ by Andrea Balency-Béarn and the UK premiere of Abracadabra (Suncatchers) for 11 virtuosi by Augusta Read Thomas in the prestigious Duke’s Hall. They returned to perform with the Manson ensemble in November 2025 to premiere various works by Lotta Wennäkoski under the conductor Tim Weiss. The quartet look forward to a masterclass in April with renowned composer Thomas Adès, where they will be performing his ‘the Four Quarters’ String Quartet.

They have benefited from masterclasses with Anthony Marwood, Lawrence Power, Alasdair Tait, Johannes Meissl, Robin Wilson, the Castalian Quartet, Fibonacci Quartet, and the Doric String Quartet. They were recently invited to take part in a Chamber Studio residency, where they received coaching from Donald Grant and Pavel Fisher. They look forward to working with them again this summer in The Netherlands at the Chamber Music Atelier Delft 2026.

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