Formed in 2022 at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University under Professor André Roy, the Katarina String Quartet is the recent grand prize winner of the McGill Chamber Competition.
An emerging string quartet, the KSQ is known for their deeply personal sound and their spontaneous, enthusiastic, and evocative interpretations. The quartet has had the privilege to perform for members of the Debussy Quartet, Ysaye Quartet, and the Calidore Quartet.
In the spring of 2022, they had the honour of studying with Prof. Gerhard Schulz at the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove.
The members of the KSQ aim to pursue repertoire and projects that intersect with their musical and moral values, with a focus on centering inclusivity, sustainability, and accessibility. The quartet takes its name from Katarina Guarneri, the wife of the legendary violinmaker Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu. She made violins under her husband’s guise during the most productive years of his career and is rumored to be responsible for many of del Gesu’s most successful violins.
Inspired by Katarina, the KSQ pays tribute to the many forgotten women whose uncredited contribution to the industry paved the way for music to be shared for years to come.