Apollon Musagète Quartet - Biography

The Apollon Musagète Quartet was supported by BBT between 2014 and 2018 and also appeared at BBT20 Celebrations in 2023. For an up-to-date biography please visit www.artsmg.com.

Paweł Zalejski violin
Bartosz Zachłod violin
Piotr Szumieł viola
Piotr Skweres cello

Winner of first prize and several other awards at the 2008 ARD International Music Competition, the Apollon Musagète Quartet has rapidly become an established feature of the European musical scene, captivating public and press alike. The quartet studied with Johannes Meissl at the European Chamber Music Academy and was inspired by the musicians of the Alban Berg Quartet at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

The Apollon Musagète Quartet collaborates with renowned artists in chamber music such as Nils Mönkemeyer, Gabriela Montero, István Várdai and Jörg Widmann. Moreover, they welcome collaborations that integrate chamber music into various forms of performing arts such as ballet, staged concerts or world tour with the pop singer Tori Amos. Their own compositions Multitude for String Quartet and A Multitude of Shades are often included in the quartet’s concert repertoire.

Since the debut CD by Oehms Classics in 2010 followed by recordings for the labels such as Decca Classics and Deutsche Grammophon, their discography has grown extensively. In 2018 they released two albums with quartets by Panufnik, Szymanowski and Palester.

The quartet was nominated ECHO Rising Stars 2010, followed by highly successful performances at prestigious European venues. It was also named BBC New Generation Artist in 2012, leading to extensive touring in the UK and a number of recordings for the BBC. In 2014 the musicians received the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.

Piotr Skweres plays an ex-André Navarra cello by Gennaro Gagliano dated 1741. The instrument has kindly been provided by Merito String Instruments Trust Vienna.

The Apollon Muasgète Quartet participated in BBT’s 20th-anniversary celebrations at London’s Wigmore Hall in June 2023.

It is a great honour to be a part of the BBT family. We feel very secure to have BBT as a partner supporting us in fulfilling our future goals.

Photographs by Simon Weir; Nikolaj Lund