ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND STRING QUARTET - TE RŌPŪ TŪRŪ O AOTEAROA
With two violins, one viola and one cello, we're committed to bringing transformational chamber music experiences to New Zealanders.
Founded in 1987, the New Zealand String Quartet – Te Rōpū Tūrū o Aoteraoa (NZSQ) provides transformational chamber music experiences for New Zealanders. Known internationally for its insightful interpretations and dynamic style, the NZSQ offers high-quality musical performances, blending fresh and familiar repertoire, including New Zealand music, major composers, and cross-genre collaborations. Proud cultural ambassadors, the NZSQ has commissioned over 150 New Zealand works and actively champions New Zealand and Māori music. In addition to performing, the Quartet plays a leadership role in music education, serving as Quartet-in-Residence at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī since 1991. The NZSQ Trust also leads the annual Adam Summer School for Chamber Music in Nelson and mentors young musicians through various programmes across the country.
Our Purpose:
Reimagining classical excellence in a diverse cultural landscape.
Our Vision:
To play a leading role in the future of New Zealand music.
Our Mission:
To provide transformational chamber music experiences that inspire, challenge, educate and reflect Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our Strategic Pillars:
In Concert
To champion New Zealand and contemporary music alongside the rich repertoire of classical canon throughout Aotearoa and abroad.
In Collaboration
To explore the possibilities of the String Quartet genre through collaboration with other artists and art forms.
In Your Community
To connect and enrich communities through accessible musical experiences.
Pathways
To inspire, empower and nurture future generations of New Zealand musicians.
Sustainability
To ensure the longevity of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust through a focus on people, planet, partnerships and responsible resourcing.
Our Values:
Excellence
As the national string quartet, we honour Aotearoa/New Zealand’s distinct identity by striving for the highest quality in all we do.
Collaboration
As a small team we respect and support one another, and we apply that same approach to partnerships with our communities.
Innovation
We operate in a constantly evolving environment so we are agile and open to learning, and we actively explore new ideas to ensure chamber music remains vibrant and relevant for generations to come.
Integrity
We recognise that we work in a closeknit industry and that our actions may impact others. As such we work to build trust through our actions within our organisation and the communities we serve.
Inclusion
We seek opportunities to engage diverse communities and aim to make all New Zealanders feel welcome when engaging with our mahi.