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 Vision:
To reimagine what a string quartet can be for all New Zealanders in the 21st century.
Our Mission:
To provide transformational chamber music experiences that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand's unique diversity and cultural fabric to the world.
Through a world-class fulltime national string quartet, we:
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Provide dynamic and high-quality musical experiences for all New Zealanders, that embrace the fresh and familiar;
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Take a leadership and advocacy role in advancing music education;
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Champion New Zealand arts and Ngā Toi Māori as cultural ambassadors at home and abroad.
Our Values:
Excellence
We continuously strive for excellence in all that we do, and imbue this within all aspects of our on and off stage mahi.
Diversity
We embrace and reflect the increasing diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the value this brings to our mahi.
Innovation
Is part of our DNA. We actively seek new ways to engage with our partners, audiences and communities, embracing new ideas and initiatives.
Collaboration
We foster a collaborative spirit within our organisation and develop wider partnerships with other artists, educators and communities.
Identity
We are champions of Aotearoa New Zealand music and advocates for the universal power of classical music, bringing a distinctive New Zealand voice to our performances at home and abroad.
360˚ Learning
We apply the principles of Ako (we are all teachers and learners) to all that we do, acknowledging this achieves better outcomes for all.