Residency / MERITA
A unique and innovative talent development program
The SQBA Residency is the talent development programme of the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam. For four weeks, three promising young string quartets are given the time and freedom to step outside the beaten track, experiment with new ideas and develop their own artistic voice.
Under the motto Rewilding the String Quartet, they explore the string quartet from every angle. Along the way, they are guided and challenged by an international team of tutors and artists. They delve into existing and new repertoire and explore new ways of bringing their music to life and sharing it with audiences.
The third edition of the SQBA Residency will begin in autumn 2026. The three participating quartets have already been selected: Bosmans Kwartet (NL), Otilka Quartet (NL) and Quatuor Våren (FR).
SQBA Residency #2 took place from October 2023 until October 2024 with Atenea Quartet (SP) | Kleio Quartet (UK) | Viride Quartet (NL).
SQBA Residency #1 took place from October 2021 until September 2022 with Quarteto Tejo (PT) | Belinfante Quartet (NL) | Karski Quartet (PL/BE).
With this programme, we feel the Biennale can see inside of our shared quartet brain and knows exactly what we need.
Belinfante Quartet, the Netherlands
From the SQBA Residency we expect that which we could not expect from real life: a string quartet lab where the boundaries are limitless, a place where knowledge is deepened and our human and artistic values will soar to heights not reached before.
Quarteto Tejo, Portugal
We appreciate that the Residency has such a wide scope. We'd like to concentrate on performing and creating, which is a learning process in itself.
Karski Quartet, Belgium
Tutors
The core team of the SQBA Residency consists of three permanent tutors and the artistic team of the String Quartet Biennale. Together, they shape the teaching and workshop program. Additionally, we invite a number of guest tutors, including Tabea Zimmermann (violist and educator), Jonathan Brown (former member of the Casals Quartet), Emma Bonnici (vocalist and dancer), and Francisca Rijken (embodiment and stage presence).
Annette Walther (Signum Quartett)
Annette Walther is a founding member and second violin of the international renowned Signum Quartet. In addition to her career with the Signum Quartet, Annette loves sharing the stage as a violinist with other musicians at international chamber music festivals. In 2016, Annette has been appointed as violin lecturer at the Louis Spohr Music Academy in Kassel.
Ivar Berix
From 1987 on, Ivar was the clarinetist of the Dutch reed quintet Calefax. A close-knit ensemble that has maintained a reputation for more than 35 years on the basis of virtuoso playing, brilliant arrangements and a fresh stage presentation. In 2020 Ivar left the group after 33 successful years and has been sharing all the experience and inspiration he has gained ever since. He does so in the role of ensemble coach, team coach and listening coach.
Mark Withers
Clarinettist Mark Withers performs old music and creates new music working alongside the widest possible range of musicians. Mark has a special interest in music for people with sickness and disability. He has helped to establish new creative education and outreach programmes with ensembles including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Orquesta Nacional de España and he currently directs ongoing programmes with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Festival d’Aix. Mark has played a central role in the establishment of the SQBA Residency.
SQBA Residency & Merita
SQBA Residency #3 will commence in autumn 2026. Would you like to learn more about the next SQBA Residency and MERITA? Then send an email to residency@sqba.nl.
MERITA
Where chamber Music, cultural hERItage and TAlent meet.
The SQBA Residency is part of a partnership called MERITA, supported
by the European Union and initiated by Le Dimore del Quartetto.
MERITA is an online and offline platform that increases the visibility
and circulation of emerging European string quartets while promoting
European cultural heritage.
The four objectives of Merita:
- Promoting chamber music in Europe through special projects
- Improving and developing careers of young emerging string quartets
- Innovating the chamber music industry and creating new job opportunities for young musicians
- Promoting a sustainable business model that unites emerging
chamber music artists, audiences, and cultural heritage, fostering
the exchange of best practices and competitiveness for artists
Merita in numbers:
- 19 organisations from 16 countries, growing to 22 organisations from 19 countries
- 56 ensembles comprising a total of 202 musicians: 34 string quartets and 22 piano trios
- More than 192 concerts
- 44 artistic residencies at historic venues
MERITAcubed
Following the success of its first phase, MERITA continues with MERITAcubed, a new phase supported by the European Union and running from 2025 to 2029. The platform will be further expanded, offering young chamber music ensembles new opportunities for professional development, artistic exchange and international collaboration.
Within MERITAcubed, sustainability takes on an even more prominent role — in ecological, artistic, economic and cultural terms. A specially developed CO₂ calculator, among other initiatives, will help ensembles and venues gain insight into their environmental footprint and identify ways to reduce it. The connection between music and European heritage will also be further strengthened. In addition to other cultural heritage sites, historic gardens will now become part of the project as concert venues.
Donate & support the SQBA Residency
The SQBA Residency is supported by a group of generous private donors. With their support we can scout and foster young emerging string quartets and offer our SQBA Residency program to the young string quartets for free.
Read more about the possibilities for giving below or email Kiki Raposo k.raposo@sqba.nl.