Leonkoro Quartet
The Leonkoro Quartet is a string quartet, formed in 2019 and based in Berlin, Germany.[1]
In April 2022, the quartet won first prize[2][3] and no less than 9 of the special prizes at the prestigious Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition[4] in London, despite being the youngest quartet competing, with an average age of just 24.[1] They followed this in May by winning the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition,[5] also winning the Audience Prize. They also won a number of competition prizes prior to these successes. In November 2022, they received the MERITO Award based on quality of public performances over the year.[6][7]
The ensemble takes its name from the Esperanto words for 'lion' and 'heart'. They were part of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme for 2022-4.[8] Unusually, they performed standing up, apart from the cellist, until their change of personnel in 2025.
Their first recording, of String Quartets by Ravel and Schumann (No. 3 in A major, Op. 41 No. 3), was released in 2023.[9]
On 30 January 2026, they released Out of Vienna, which examines "early-20th-century Viennese modernism"; it was named an editor's choice by Gramophone Magazine.[10][11]
Members
The members are:[7]
- Jonathan Schwarz, first violin;
- Emiri Kakiuchi, second violin;
- Mayu Konoe, viola;
- Lukas Schwarz, violoncello.
Until 2025, Amelie Wallner was the second violinist.
References
- 1 2 2022 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition; programme and notes
- ↑ "2022 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition". Wigmore Hall. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ↑ "The Leonkoro Quartet triumph at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition". Gramophone. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ↑ "Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition". Wigmore Hall. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ↑ "Quatuors à Bordeaux: competition & festival 2022". Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and Festival. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ↑ "Leonkoro Quartet wins 2022 Merito String Quartet award/15620.article". The Strad. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- 1 2 "Official website". leonkoroquartet.com.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists/15620.article". BBC. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ↑ "Ravel, Schumann – String Quartets". Presto Music. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ Weininger, David (12 February 2026). "5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ↑ "Out of Vienna". Presto Music. 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.