Affinity Quartet are globally recognised for exceptional music-making, winning the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition and earning laureateships at prestigious events such as the Bad Tölz International String Quartet Competition (Germany), the Mozart International String Quartet Competition (Austria), and the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition.
Known for their commitment to new music, Affinity Quartet will perform Incantation in Four Parts by French composer Heloise Werner and Movement for String Quartet by Australian violist and composer Justin Williams, a rising voice in Australian composition in the acoustically pristine Windsong Pavillion.
The program concludes with Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor, a groundbreaking work that revolutionized the string quartet genre with its innovative textures, radical tonality, and sensual beauty. Join us for a program that blends tradition with fresh contemporary voices, in the peaceful setting of Four Winds, as Affinity Quartet showcase their impressive performance prowess described by critics as ‘flawless’ (Limelight).
“This group of musicians has a collective wisdom and maturity which is singularly impressive … Affinity is a musical force with which to be reckoned.’’
Repertoire
HELOISE WERNER – Incantation in Four Parts
MOZART – Adagio and Fugue in C minor
JUSTIN WILLIAMS – Movement for String Quartet
DEBUSSY – String Quartet in G minor
Artists
Seonhye Song, violin
Nicholas Waters, violin
Isabella Bignasca, viola
Mee Na Lojewski, cello
“The young ensemble thus sets in motion a perfectly coordinated machine that takes the listeners between their wheels and releases them breathlessly.”
Tickets
Meet the Artists
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Affinity Quartet
Melbourne-based Affinity Quartet earns its place as one of the most outstanding and awarded string quartets of its generation. At the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition AQ was awarded the top three prizes – the Monash University Grand Prize, the Robert Salzer String Quartet First Prize, and the Audience Prize – becoming the first Australian ensemble to win the competition in its 32 year history. This milestone followed Affinity’s Second Prize awards at the Bad Tölz International String Quartet Competition (Germany) and the Mozart International String Quartet Competition (Austria). At the latter, Affinity Quartet was also awarded the Special Prize for Best Interpretation of a Contemporary Work for their performance of Brett Dean’s String Quartet no.3 ’Hidden Agendas’. In 2022 Affinity Quartet became the first Australian string quartet to reach the Finals of London’s Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, winning Third Prize.
Committed to accessibility and renewal in the string quartet form, Affinity Quartet celebrates its 10 year anniversary in 2025. Their public programs have become synonymous with excellence in Australian chamber music, earning praise for ‘captivating playing’ (Süddeutsche Zeitung), ‘flawless ensemble’ (Limelight Magazine), ‘highly committed’ (The Age), and ‘first class string playing’ (Classic Melbourne).
Affinity Quartet performs and commissions new Australian works for string quartet. Première performances include works by Australian composers Brett Dean, Darrin Archer, Matt Laing, Tom Misson, Lee Bradshaw, and Sally Beamish (UK). Affinity’s 2024/25 Season includes premières by Alice Chance (AU), Heloise Werner (France), Alexandra Vrebalov (Serbia), Nicole Lizee (Canada) and Fode Lassana Diabate (Mali). Since 2023 Affinity Quartet receives professional mentorship from Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet) during annual residencies at The International Institute of Chamber Music, Madrid, which include live streamed concerts.
Affinity Quartet is a registered charity receiving generous support from the Robert Salzer Foundation, Melbourne architects Kennedy Nolan, Readings Books, Cope-Williams Arts Foundation, Alex Grant Violins Melbourne, an instrument benefactor, and a growing community of supporters. Its Voluntary Board is chaired by Hilary McPhee AO and comprises seven advisory members.
