Partridge String Quartet
Jos Jonker, violin
Mana Ohashi, violin
Eunise Cheng, viola
Daniel Smith, cello
As Musica Viva Australia's 2020 - 2022 Futuremaker artists, the award-winning Partridge String Quartet are fast becoming a force in the Australian classical music scene. Brilliant and dynamic chamber musicians, the quartet strives to connect and surprise audiences through their bold performances and creative collaborations which have been featured on ABC Classic, Violin Channel, CutCommon and Limelight Magazines.
Formed at the Australian National Academy of Music, the quartet received national recognition as first prize winners of the inaugural Queensland International Chamber Music Competition (2019) and ANAM Chamber Music Competition (2018). In 2018, the quartet were recipients of the Husky Energy Artist Award after they were selected for an international string quartet program residency at the Banff Centre of Arts and Creativity in Canada where they were mentored by the JACK Quartet, Eybler Quartet, Parker Quartet and prolific American composer Paul Wiancko. Throughout their studies, the quartet received tutelage and mentoring from the music faculty of ANAM, Australian String Quartet, Borodin String Quartet, Trio Dali and Alban Berg Quartet. The quartet performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre as part of Musica Viva’s 2022 National Concert Season and are recipients of the AYO Ernest Llewellyn Memorial Trust Fund Travel Award.
Passionate advocates of Australian composers, Partridge performed a complete five string quartet cycle by Richard Mills AM, were recipients of the Musica Viva Chamber Music Prize for their performance of Paul Stanhope’s Second Quartet and recently gave the premiere performance of Briony Marks’ work, “Australia Fair?”. They have presented collections of Australian works at the MPavilion, National Gallery of Victoria, Ian Potter Centre, National Film and Sound Archive Theatre in Canberra and are engaged in exciting projects and music festivals around Australia.
2022 proved to be an exciting year for the quartet in their final Futuremakers year, being featured artists at Musica Viva’s season’ opening concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre, and broadcast on ABC Classic FM. In June they were selected to participate at the Curtis Institute of Music for a string quartet course with the Dover Quartet, generously supported by the Curtis Institute of Music, the Ernest Llewllyn Memorial Trust and Musica Viva Australia.
Resistance & Rebellion
A dynamic program featuring a collection of groundbreaking string quartets that challenge traditional expectations and provides a thought-provoking journey of classical string quartet repertoire for all audiences.
Experience a dynamic and captivating program that seamlessly weaves together three distinct yet thematically connected works for string quartet. Holly Harrison's "Balderdash" takes audiences on a journey through vibrant soundscapes that push the boundaries of traditional classical music, incorporating unconventional techniques and nods to Australian folk culture. Erwin Schulhoff's "5 pieces for string quartet" further explores dissonance and polyrhythms, as well as themes of resistance and rebellion, through a lens of leftist politics. Finally, Benjamin Britten's 2nd String Quartet features hauntingly beautiful folk music elements and complex harmonies, while also serving as a commentary on the struggle against totalitarianism. Join us on this exhilarating and thought-provoking musical voyage.
Harrison Balderdash
Schulhoff 5 Pieces for String Quartet
Britten String Quartet No 2
This program runs for 60 minutes without an interval
4 armless chairs
4 wire music stands
Cello riser
Microphone to speak with audience
The Partridge String Quartet are available to present string ensemble workshops and masterclasses for students of all levels. Additionally, open rehearsals and musical workshops that provide an opportunity to gain insight into the and pieces are available
1 August - 15 September
Book an artist
Travel to centres in regional NSW is subsidised through the support of Create NSW. Musica Viva Australia can book the artists, arrange all travel and accommodation, provide posters, flyers and program information.
If you are interested in bringing an ensemble to your town or city, please contact:
Sean Moloney
Manager, Special Projects & Regional Touring
02 8394 6662