Celebrating its 29th Concert Season in 2023, the Goldner String Quartet has long-standing recognition as not only Australia’s pre-eminent string quartet, but as an ensemble of international significance, favourably compared with the best in the world.
The Quartet is named after Richard Goldner, founder of Musica Viva Australia. Launched in 1995 and still retaining all founding members, the musicians are well known to Australian and international audiences through their performances and recordings and for their concurrent membership of the Australia Ensemble at UNSW. All members have occupied principal positions in organisations such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Unanimous audience and critical acclaim following their London debut at Wigmore Hall in 1997 ensured the Goldner Quartet’s invitations to prestigious UK and European festivals. Performances in the USA and throughout Asia have followed, in addition to several tours of New Zealand.
The Quartet has regularly toured nationally for Musica Viva Australia as part of their International Concert Series and has appeared at many of Australia’s leading music festivals including Musica Viva’s Sydney Festival, Music in the Hunter, and at Huntington Estate amongst many others, in addition to being Quartet-in-Residence at the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville, North Queensland.
Strongly committed to teaching the next generation of string quartets, the Goldners have mentored young ensembles through programs of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, the Australian National Academy of Music, the Sydney Conservatorium, and AFCM Townsville.
The Goldner String Quartet was first presented by Musica Viva Australia in 1995, as part of the company's 50th Anniversary Gala. Its first national tour was in 1997 and since then the Quartet has appeared for Musica Viva Australia many times, in mainstage concerts, festivals and several morning series.
