Jerusalem Quartet - About

We have deliberately avoided participating in competitions, preferring instead to get our name established and known by performing. It was therefore both a great surprise and a delight to be recipients of this award from which we can benefit in so many ways. Based in Israel, our expenses just to travel to Europe are enormous and concert fees just about cover our outgoings – there certainly hasn’t been any money left to cover such necessities as photographs or publicity. What this award will give us is the chance to maximise our concert activities by enhancing our publicity. Even though our career wasn’t launched via a competition, things have developed very quickly and we have therefore all decided to take a few months off in order to further our individual studies. This award has enabled us to make the most of this break.

The Jerusalem Quartet is a regular and beloved guest on the world’s great concert stages. It was already a decade old when it became one of BBT’s inaugural award winners and the members of the quartet were in no doubt as to how the Trust could help them.  It was time for a sabbatical!  But only with the financial support of BBT could they afford to take a break from the continuous cycle of rehearsing, touring and performing to pursue their individual studies, refresh their ideas and further develop their playing before regrouping and resuming their musical journey together. BBT also helped fund overseas touring and PR expenses, setting up a website and purchasing new bows.

The Jerusalem Quartet participated with fellow inaugural BBT award winners in an international tour of showcase concerts led by Mitsuko Uchida at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Vienna and Queen Elizabeth Hall London in 2004 and was also invited to the esteemed Verbier Festival Academy Chamber Music Programme which was supported by BBT between 2006 and 2009.

Jerusalem Quartet was supported with a BBT Award between 2003 and 2006.

For a current biography please visit jerusalem-quartet.com or impresariat-simmenauer.de

Photographs by Felix Broede and David Hoskins