12 March 2024 - Applications are now open for the tenth Aroha String Quartet International Music Academy. The 2024 ASQ International Music Academy will take place at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, Wellington, and will begin on the morning of Monday 8 July at 9:30am, ending with a Gala Concert at St Andrew’s on the evening of Saturday 13 July.

Come along and be part of the 10th birthday celebrations!

Applications close on Sunday 31 March.

15 November 2023 - On Sunday 3 December at 3 pm we will be joined by our friend and colleague NZSO bassist Sasha Gunchenko for a house concert in Kelburn. We present two richly varied pieces for string quintet.

French Romantic composer George Onslow’s String Quintet No 15 in C minor Op 29 is called ‘The Bullet’. In this exciting autobiographical piece Onslow depicts a hunting accident and his subsequent illness and recovery. Our second piece is a classic of the chamber music repertoire: Dvorak’s quirky and richly varied String Quintet No 2 in G Op 77.

26 June 2023 - Works by 13 composers can be heard in the two concerts at the 2023 ASQ International Music Academy taking place at St Andrew's on The Terrace in Wellington next week.

The first concert, at 12:15 on Wednesday 5 July, is part of the St Andrew's regular lunchtime recital series and features the members of the ASQ plus Academy guest tutors and players in works by Hoffmeister, Beethoven, Schubert and Mendelssohn.

22 February 2023 - Applications are now open for the ninth ASQ International Music Academy to be held in St Andrew's on The Terrace in Wellington from 3-8 July. Applicants must apply for full six days.

Applications close on Sunday 19 March.

20 January 2023 - Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters around Aotearoa and overseas! We're really happy to be playing our 'Serenade' programme of string trios several more times in the first half of 2023. We have shows in Motueka on 14 February, Waikanae on 26 February, Upper Hutt on 4 April and Lower Hutt on 5 April. We're hoping to present the programme in Auckland and Wellington also. See the Concerts tab on our website for more information.

21 September 2022 - How lucky we are to be able to give two further performances of the wonderful programme of clarinet quintets with our friend and colleague Rachel Vernon! These concerts will be in Oamaru on Thursday 13 October and in Dunedin on Sunday 16 October. You'll find more details of these shows via the Concerts tab on this website.

26 July 2022 - Our 'Serenade' string trio concert for the Christopher's Classics series in Christchurch has been moved from 11 August to Tuesday 27 September due to NZSO scheduling changes. Our thanks to Christopher's Classics for being flexible about the date of this concert. We're very much looking forward to performing there.

We agreed to relinquish our 'Serenade' concert for Chamber Music Hutt Valley to allow CMHV to schedule a string quartet instead. We will now perform in their 2023 series.

20 May 2022 - It has been such a privilege and pleasure to play our Clarinet Quintet programme around the country in the last couple of months. It’s wonderful to work with our friends and colleagues, the NZSO’s Principal Bass Clarinet Rachel Vernon and NZSO First Violinist Anne Loeser (playing instead of our usual second violinist Konstanze Artmann). We’ve also been lucky to be able to bring three amazing pieces of music to audiences. In many cases this has been the first live performance people have attended for many months. This has given the concerts a special atmosphere.

2 May 2022 - The Waimakariri District Community Arts Council has postponed the clarinet quintet concert we were scheduled to play for them in Rangiora on 10 May. If a replacement date is found we will publicise this here on our website.

9 March 2022 - Due to the current Omicron outbreak our scheduled concert for Chamber Music Wanganui on Tue 22 March has been postponed, possibly to September. We'll publicise the new date on this website once it's confirmed.

5 March 2022 - We’re really sorry to have to postpone our Invercargill concert of clarinet quintets that was scheduled for 26 April. With no viable way for us to get back home to Wellington if we were forced to isolate while on tour it seemed prudent to wait until the Omicron peak has well and truly passed. We are looking to reschedule the concert for October and will post details on this website when they’re confirmed.

13 January 2022 - Happy New Year to you all! After so many of our concerts were cancelled or postponed in 2021 we're so looking forward to being able to return to our wonderful programme of clarinet quintets in the first half of 2022. We've got around ten concerts scheduled, from Kerikeri down to Invercargill - just click on the Concerts tab on this website for more details.

30 August 2021 - With the uncertainty around the timing of changes to Covid-19 alert levels we've made the decision to cancel our concert that we were to perform in Hanover Hall, Dunedin on Tuesday 14 September. We're really disappointed not to be able to play in Dunedin this year. However, we'll be looking at a date to schedule our clarinet quintet programme for performance in Dunedin in 2022.

10 May 2021 - We're really pleased to welcome Imogen Granwal to the Quartet for our Flight concerts in the first half of this year. Imogen is replacing Robert who is recovering from a tendon injury he sustained at the end of 2020. While Robert is recovering well and will be back with the Quartet for the second half of this year, he has not been able to rehearse with the group so far. You can read about Imogen here.

1 February - We have great pleasure in announcing that this year's ASQ Academy will take place in St Andrew's on The Terrace in Wellington from the 12th to the 17th of July. Further information, including the flyer, brochure and application form, can be found on the Academy page of this website.

The Academy will operate within Government guidelines for Covid-19. If the official Covid alert levels mean that the Academy must be cancelled, a full refund of any fees paid (including the deposit) will be made. Applications close on Sunday 28 March.

26 August 2020 - Three more of our planned 'Phantasy' concerts have had to be cancelled due to the latest outbreak of Covid-19. We're really sad not to be able to perform in some locations, but it has become too uncertain and risky to continue with these concerts, unfortunately.
Our concerts in Oamaru on 31 August, Napier on 10 September and Auckland on 13 September are not going ahead. At this stage all other concerts are proceeding.
Stay safe and well!

25 June 2020 - We're sorry to announce that we have had to cancel the Dunedin concert in our 'Phantasy' series scheduled for Sunday 30 August. We hope to be able to reschedule this concert to another date.

27 April 2020 - The first of our two newsletters for 2020 is available for download from the link below. Enjoy reading it! If you want to subscribe to our mailing list to receive our email newsletters and occasional concert notices, use the link on the top left of the home page or click here.

Download:

• ASQ newsletter April 2020

30 March 2020 - We’re sorry to have to announce that all our remaining concerts for the first half of 2020 have had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. We’d been rehearsing our ‘Flight’ programme for performance in half a dozen centres. We will now perform this programme in the first half of 2021. We are planning to present our ‘Phantasy’ concerts in the second half of the year as scheduled, coronavirus permitting!

5 January 2020 - Following the success of the previous two events, we are looking forward to returning shortly to the Zhongshan People's Culture Centre for a week-long chamber music course. Our third ASQ International Music Academy in Asia will take place in Zhongshan, China, from 13 to 18 January. Over the six days we will be working with the team of dedicated local musicians and tutors and the young participants ranging in age from 6 to 20 years from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and New Zealand. The aim is to foster team work and a love of ensemble playing.

13 July 2019 - We're really excited that our fifth ASQ International Music Academy is coming up soon in Wellington. Forty-two string players and pianists from China, Hong Kong, Australia and around Aotearoa will converge on St Andrew's on The Terrace for six days of chamber music, string ensemble, masterclasses, concerts and social activities. We always have such a blast at the Academy.

See our concerts listings for information about the three Academy concerts.

21 December 2018 - We were really sad to say goodbye to our second violinist Ursula Evans at the end of the 2018 season. Ursula joined us at the end of 2017 and fitted in incredibly well. Unfortunately the recurrence of an old injury meant she was unable to play in some of our 2018 concerts and led to her leaving the Quartet later in the year. We loved working with Ursula in the Quartet and are sorry to see her go - but we’re really glad we still have her as a friend and NZSO colleague.

21 November 2019 - We've put together two varied and exciting programmes for our 2019 concert series: one for string quartet only, to be performed throughout the year; the other for string quartet and piano in the second half of the year only.

Both programmes start with Mozart's String Quartet No 17 in B-flat K458. Nicknamed 'The Hunt', this is a high-spirited, joyful work, both rustic and sophisticated.

7 August 2018 - Due to a change in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra schedule that affects three Quartet members we have had to yet again change the date of the Wellington concert in our Light & Dark series. The concert will now be on Wednesday 26 September at 7:30 in St Andrew's on The Terrace.

We're very sorry to have had to make this date change, and hope it doesn't cause you any inconvenience.

26 May 2018 - Thirty-eight non-professional musicians aged 10 to 70+ from New Zealand, China, Australia and the UK will join us in Wellington in the last week of July for our fifth ASQ International Music Academy. We're expecting a full-on week as we help the participants prepare their string orchestra and chamber group pieces for the informal and public concerts. See our Concerts schedule for the concert dates.

11 May 2018 - Ursula, our second violinist, is experiencing the recurrence of the effects of an old injury and is having to reduce her playing workload. She won’t be able to take part in many of our concerts this year, unfortunately. Her place in these concerts will be taken by NZSO first violnist Anne Loeser. We’re really grateful to Anne for being able to join us. We hope you recover soon, Ursula!

6 March 2018 - Whilst New Zealand was enjoying a sizzling summer in January, the ASQ team embarked on a special trip to the northern hemisphere winter to run the Inaugural ASQ International Chamber Music Academy in Asia from 28 January to 3 February 2018 in Zhongshan, Canton, China. 

10 December 2017 - In 2018 we tour with a programme containing four contrasting but complementary works. Two of them must be amongst the best known string quartets of all: Haydn’s “Emperor” Quartet Op 76 No 3, with its famous variations on an anthem he wrote for Kaiser Franz II, and Dvorak’s “American” Quartet Op 96. Dvorak wrote of this quartet in 1893 “I wanted to write something for once that was very melodious and straightforward, and dear ‘Papa’ Haydn kept appearing before my eyes, and that is why it all turned out so simply.”

6 November 2017 - From 29 January to 3 February next year we're running our first ASQ International Music Academy in Asia. The 2018 event will take place in Zhongshan, China. The format will be similar to our annual Academy in Wellington, though the participants will all be school-aged children. We'll give a concert for participants on the evening before the Academy begins. The week of string ensemble rehearsals, sectionals and chamber music will culminate in a participants' concert, followed by a concert by the Zhongshan Chamber Orchestra.

26 August 2017 - We're really thrilled to be putting on a free concert of music from China & New Zealand to celebrate Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington on Sunday 1 October at 7pm.

The programme includes arrangements of well-known Chinese folk songs and two tuneful works by New Zealand composers Anthony Ritchie & David Farquhar.

This concert is organised and sponsored by the China Cultural Centre in New Zealand.

24 February 2017 - Our brochure is now out for our 2017 ASQ International Music Academy, which will take place from 1-6 August at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington. It can be downloaded, along with an e-flyer, the application form and a draft timetable, from this website. Participants who are unable to attend the full six-day course may apply for the short course 4-6 August.

25 October 2016 - We are now able to announce that the 2017 Aroha String Quartet International String Academy will take place on 1-6 August. We are delighted that we'll be back at St Andrew’s on the Terrace which was such an ideal venue in 2016. We had a fantastic stock of cellists this year, and will work to building our ranks of violinists, violists and possibly a bass or two to even up the balance. Spread the word to all amateur and student musicians to look out for the call for applications next year.

14 September 2016 - Our China Impressions concert in Wellington on Sunday 9 October presents a musical journey across China. In an exciting new venture for us, we've been working with video artist Jon He. His dynamic video images will accompany our performance of Eight Colours by Tan Dun (composer of the score for 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon').

4 May - We join acclaimed New Zealand author Patricia Grace, nga taonga pūoro artists Warren Warbrick and Alistair Fraser, and Te Rau Taiohi Kapa Haka in two performances of 'Te Reo o te Marama - The Voice of the Moon' on 16 June.

Organised by Wellington Museum and Chamber Music New Zealand, this celebration of Matariki will be an homage to the moon and her many voices.

There are two performances (6 and 8pm) of this one-hour family-friendly event in the wonderful ambience of Wellington Museum; entry by koha.

3 May 2016 - Auckland-based composer Alex Taylor has written two new miniatures, 'a coincidence of surface I and II' for the Ensō String Quartet tour with Chamber Music NZ. The two pieces can be performed on their own, or simultaneously as an octet.

17 February 2016 - The Tango Ballet Suite, a musical street drama in six scenes for string quartet by Argentinian tango master Astor Piazzolla, is at the centre of a colourful and varied programme we're presenting in six centres in the first half of 2016: Palmerston North (23 March), New Plymouth (24 March), Waikanae (10 April), Wellington 17 April), Christchurch (17 May) and Auckland 22 May).

11 December 2015 - Tonight at 8pm the live recording of the concert from the Aroha Quartet/SOUNZ/Radio NZ Concert recordings at Labour Weekend will be broadcast on Radio NZ Concert as part of Sound Lounge hosted by Kate Mead. For this project we were joined by guest second violinist Anne Loeser.

If you're unable to tune in on your radio you can listen online here

The seven works we perform are:
Anthony Ritchie - Whakatipua
Jeroen Speak - Auxetos
Ross Carey - Toccatina (Elegy)
Alex Taylor - refrain
Blas Gonzalez - SPASMS

16 July 2015 - Participants in the inaugural ASQ International Music Academy will play in a gala concert in St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington at 6:30pm on Sunday 26 July.

The concert will showcase chamber music and string ensemble music that has been prepared during a week of intensive rehearsals, lessons, masterclasses and informal concerts held at the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre.

6 April 2015 - We're thrilled to announce that applications for the inaugural ASQ International Music Academy are now open, closing on 15 May. The ASQ Academy will bring together musicians from around New Zealand and overseas for a week of enjoyable music-making in Wellington from 20-26 July 2015.

The focus of the Academy in 2015 is on strings and piano, with a busy schedule offering chamber music rehearsals and coaching, string ensembles and string classes, individual lessons and masterclasses. Evenings are dedicated to informal and public concerts and social events.

10 December 2014 - Our programme for the first half of 2015 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of New Zealand's best known and most influential composers, Douglas Lilburn. Lilburn's String Quartet in E minor sits between Haydn's 'Joke' Quartet (Opus 22 No 2), and the third of Beethoven's Opus 59 'Rasumovsky' quartets in what we know will be a varied and satisfying programme.

1 December 2014 - We're sad to announce that Blythe Press is upping sticks and heading overseas to further his career. Blythe joined us in 2012 and quickly established himself in the Quartet. He has contributed so much to the rehearsals and performances. The rest of the group will really miss him.

Photo sessions won't have the same challenges in future without Blythe's tall frame to fit in!

We wish Blythe, Kuan Miao and Isobel the best of luck with their new endeavours.

17 November 2014 - Yes, it was a long time ago, but I vividly remember every little detail surrounding the first public appearance of the Aroha String Quartet. I am David, the Slav, a devoted follower of Symphonic and Chamber Music. I had this great privilege, pleasure and fortune to have been in the circle of close friends to Haihong, Beiyi, Zhongxian and Jiaxin, wonderfully talented musicians who created the Quartet ten years ago.

5 May 2014 - We're very happy to announce the release in NZ of our first live CD. The recording was made available by Radio NZ concert from a concert in Christchurch on 2 October 2012 in the church of St Michael & All Angels.

The CD, selling for $25 (free postage within NZ), contains Haydn's 'Sunrise' Quartet, and the great Quintet in C major by Schubert (with Andrew Joyce, cello).

If you'd like to buy a copy of the CD, you can send us a cheque for $25 (please put your name and address on the back) to Aroha Quartet, 82 Woodland Rd, Johnsonville, Wellington

11 October 2013 - We're really looking forward to play five concerts in 2014 as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's Kaleidoscope series. The concerts in October will be in Nelson, Invercargill, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Hamilton. Our programme for CMNZ will be: Beethoven - String Quartet in A Op 18 № 5 Shostakovich - String Quartet № 1 Traditional Chinese works Ravel - String Quartet in F

11 September 2013 - We finish 2013 with nine concerts based on our Near & Far(r) programme, containing sparkling and entertaining works from three continents, including the funky 'Mondo Rondo' from New Zealand's own Gareth Farr.

Seven concerts are in NZ: Invercargill, Queenstown, Greytown, Wellington, Whanganui, Palmerston North and Auckland. Our last two shows take us offshore, to China.

You'll find more details on the concerts listing on this website.

29 March 2013 - We were very sad to learn of the death on 19 March of John Nixon, the patron of the Aroha Quartet, after a long battle with cancer. John was very supportive of the Quartet right from the beginning - he gave us our name, and helped organise our first concert in Te Aroha in July 2004, and we have kept in touch ever since.

We were looking forward to celebrating our tenth anniversary with John next year. Sadly, he won't be here to be part of that. We will really miss him.

19 September 2012 - The Aroha Quartet will take part in a concert at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington on 11 October to raise funds to complete the renovation of the church. The other groups performing are the the Dominion and New Zealand String Quartets and the Poneke Trio.

St Andrew's is a popular venue for concerts, including its long-standing series of free Wednesday lunchtime recitals.

The Quartet is thrilled to be able to offer its Cello Quintets programme to audiences in Auckland and Palmerston North, adding to the list of concerts already scheduled in Hamilton, Greytown, Lower Hutt and Christchurch.

The programme begins with Haydn's "Sunrise" Quartet, and ends with one of the most loved works in the chamber music repertoire: the great String Quintet in C major by Franz Schubert. In the middle is a short quintet by a young Hungarian composer Peter Tornyai, written in 2010 in homage to Schubert.

The six performances of this programme are:

Recently the Aroha String Quartet marked the end of an era with the departure of Beiyi Xue, who has been the quartet's second violin since its inception in 2004. The rest of the quartet thank her for her amazing contribution in both a musical and a personal sense and wish her all the very best for her future chamber music-making activities.

2011 ends on a high note! On Sunday 20 November we head off to Mudgee, New South Wales to prepare for performances in the prestigious Huntington Estate Winery Music Festival (http://www.huntingtonestate.com.au). The festival programme is created by Musica Viva Australia and is held in the beautiful Huntington Estate Vineyard. In addition to the music there is gourmet food and great wines.

The Aroha String Quartet are champions of new music and are always ready to try something new, but performing a world premiere in a steam railway museum was adventurous even by their standards! When the quartet was in Austria for the International Summer Academy last August they gave the first performance of a work especially written for them by the young Hungarian composer Peter Tornyai.