Biography
After a concert like this, there’s no need to worry about the future of classical music.
Michael Haefliger, Executive and Artistic Director Lucerne Festival
ATENEA QUARTET
Gil Sisquella Oncins Violin
Raul Campos Calzada Violin
Bernat Santacana Hervada Viola
Ariadna Chmelik Lluís Violoncello
Founded in 2019 in Barcelona and based currently in Basel, the Atenea Quartet aims to explore and delve into the rich repertoire for string quartet, while building connections between music from different periods. From the counterpoint of the 17th century to the most avant-garde contemporary works, Atenea Quartet is especially interested in finding ways to weave together compositions conceived in very diverse contexts.
Despite their young trajectory, the ensemble has already performed in numerous renowned concert halls, including Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, L’Auditori de Barcelona, Palau de la Música Catalana, and Stadtcasino Basel. They appeared also in festivals such as the Luzerner Sommer-Festival, Musikdorf Ernen, Das Internationale Musikfest Resonanzen Sils, Schubertíada de Vilabertran, the Internationales Musikfestival Wissembourg, and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, among others.
Since its beginning, Atenea Quartet has received several awards, including first prize at the Prix Credit Suisse Jeunes Solistes 2023, the prize El Primer Palau 2022 in Barcelona, first prize at the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition 2021, and a second prize at the Premi BBVA de Música de Cambra Montserrat Alavedra 2020.
Their commitment to contemporary music is reflected in many of their performances, which have featured world and local premieres of works by composers such as Raquel García-Tomás, Antoni Ros-Marbà, Elisenda Fàbregas, and Mauro Hertig, among others.
The Quartet continues to refine its performance at the Hochschule für Musik FHNW in Basel under the guidance of Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet), Anton Kernjak, and Anna Gebert.
Previously, they received mentorship primarily from the Cuarteto Casals, Claudio Martínez Mehner, Silvia Simionescu (Gringolts Quartet), and Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet) at the Instituto Internacional de Música de Cámara de Madrid, as part of the exclusive Escuela Superior Reina Sofía.
In 2023–2024, they became YCAT Artists as part of the Young Classical Artists Trust in London, a program that supports the early careers of emerging classical musicians. Currently they receive patronage also from other initiatives, including Adami Collective Management, ProQuartet– Centre Européen de Musique de Chambre, and the Merita Platform, co-founded by the European Union.
