The String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam takes place every two years at the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ and BIMHUIS. It is a vibrant meeting place for devoted enthusiasts and curious listeners alike, as well as the world’s largest string quartet festival. Over eight packed days, with more than fifty concerts, masterclasses, talks and a wide-ranging fringe programme, the String Quartet Biennale celebrates the string quartet in all its richness and diversity.

The String Quartet Biennale embraces the beauty of tradition while seeking out the newest developments in the genre. Alongside the world’s leading established ensembles, each edition presents a large number of promising young quartets: musicians who embody the future of the string quartet.

The sixth edition will take place from 29 January to 5 February 2028. Once again, it will feature almost fifty concerts, from early morning until late at night. Expect numerous world premieres as well as some of the most celebrated quartets in the repertoire. Meet fellow music lovers and musicians, attend masterclasses, and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner—or simply stop by for coffee and cake—at our own festival restaurant in the Atrium.

Care to help us realise the festival? Read about the many ways in which you can contribute to the String Quartet Biennale:

Commissions

Across five festival editions, from 2018 to 2026, the String Quartet Biennale has already commissioned or co-commissioned more than twenty new works—not even counting the premieres brought to the festival by the quartets themselves.

Locations

PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRESS
Marjolein van Ruiten
press@sqba.nl

Board

SUPERVISORY BOARD
Michael Kembel (chair)
Levent Aykul (treasurer)
Diana van Everdingen (secretary)
Willie Beumer
Marijke Evers
Kate Rockett
Maud van Turnhout

STRING QUARTET BIENNALE FOUNDATION BOARD
Inge van Verschuer (chair)
Jeroen Davidson (treasurer)
Susan Lambrechtsen (secretary)
Riemke thoe Schwartzenberg-Manger Cats
Anne Christin Erbe

The board receives no compensation.

Artistic Ambassadors and Advisors

Charlotte Bartissol (director ProQuartet Paris)
Janet Cowperthwaite (Performing Arts Consultant, Founding Executive Director Kronos Quartet)
Kirsten Dawes (head of artistic planning and production Pierre Boulezsaal Berlin)
Liza Ferschtman (violinist)
Francis Humphrys (director West Cork Chamber Music Festival)
Stefan Metz (cellist Orlando Quartet)
Barry Shiffman (director Banff International String Quartet Competition)
Marco de Souza (founder and director Leerorkest Netherlands)
Alasdair Tait (director YCAT)
Sam Wigglesworth (performance music director Faber Music)

FAQ