Ten of the world’s finest young string quartets will be packing their bags for Banff this summer. The Banff Centre today announced the quartets chosen to participate in the 8th Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC), August 31 – September 5, 2004. They are:

Alma String Quartet   (Paris, France)
Carmel Quartet   (Givataim, Israel)
Ensō Quartet   (Houston, Texas, U.S.)
Fry Street Quartet   (Logan, Utah, U.S.)
Jupiter String Quartet   (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.)
Matangi Quartet   (The Hague, Holland)
Paizo Quartet   (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Penguin Quartet   (Prague, Czech Republic)
Royal String Quartet   (Warsaw, Poland)
Tokai String Quartet   (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

The quartets were selected by a preliminary jury of three distinguished musicians: Martin Beaver, Canada (Tokyo Quartet), Keith Harvey, United Kingdom (Gabrieli Quartet), and Jean Sulem, France (Rosamonde Quartet). Each evaluated unidentified copies of audition CDs submitted by quartets from around the world.

“These quartets represent the finest emerging ensemble talent playing today,” says Peter Gardner, executive director of BISQC. “We’ve spoken to each quartet and they are thrilled at the opportunity to play in Banff. The virtuosity and musicianship of these players will create a competition filled with youthful energy and sparkle — an aural feast for both the BISQC audience and the jury.”

Created in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Banff Centre, the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) has since become recognized as one of the world’s leading international music competitions. The competition is open to quartets of all nationalities whose members are all under the age of 35. Awards to be won include $75,000 in cash and prizes, including the offer of a Banff Centre residency and CD recording, a set of bows by renowned Canadian archetier Michael Vann, and a recital tour arranged by The Banff Centre. In addition to these prizes, BISQC also supports travel to Banff and accommodation at the Centre for each of the ten quartets.

The 2004 competition jury includes: Andrew Dawes, Canada (Orford Quartet, 1965–1991), Levon Chilingirian, U.K. (Chilingirian Quartet), Sadao Harada, Japan (Tokyo Quartet, 1969–1999), Doris Lederer, U.S. (Audubon Quartet), Philippe Muller, France (Ensemble Intercontemporain, 1976–1983), Barry Shiffman, Canada (St. Lawrence String Quartet), and Sung-Won Yang, Korea (Kumho Asiana String Quartet).

Past BISQC winners include the Daedalus Quartet (2001), Miró Quartet (1998), Amernet Quartet (1995), St. Lawrence Quartet (1992), Manfred Quartet (1989), Franciscan Quartet (1986), and the Colorado String Quartet (1983).

Tickets to this year’s BISQC are going fast. Ticket options include full-week audience residency packages for those who want to experience the thrill of the entire competition, finals weekend (Labour Day Weekend) packages, as well as single tickets for all 14 sessions. For more information, or for tickets, contact The Banff Centre Box Office at (403) 762-6301 or 1-800-413-8368 or visit www.banffcentre.ca/bisqc.

The Banff International String Quartet Competition is sponsored by the RBC Financial Group.

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Biographies of the quartets are available on the BISQC website.
Photos of most of the quartets are also available.