Cassia String Quartet

The Cassia String Quartet, formed in 2010, was born out of a passion for the string quartet repertoire. Recently awarded the Musiciens Entre Guerre et Paix by the Académie Maurice Ravel they were also finalists in the Trinity Laban Intercollegiate String Quartet prize and winners of the Nossek String Quartet Prize. The Cassia are the resident string quartet with the Arts@Trinity programme in Leeds and have given concerts as part of the International Lake District Summer Music, RNCM Chamber Music and Grassington festivals, as well as the Leeds International Concert Series.

Currently mentored by former Lindsay Quartet leader Peter Cropper the Cassia have also received coaching from the Endellion, Brodsky, Kuss, Henschel and Wihan Quartets as well as Pavel Fischer, Christoph Richter and Susie Mészáros. They have performed in masterclasses with the Škampa Quartet, James Boyd, Levon Chilingirian and with Richard Ireland in conjunction with ChamberStudio.

The quartet have commissioned and premiered a quartet by the composer Aaron Parker and were honoured to play in the Wigmore Hall as part of the Simon Bainbridge Study Day. Other collaborations include working and performing alongside the clarinettist Nick Cox. In addition to regular concerts in the north of England the Cassia enjoy taking on more mainstream projects and have collaborated with Joe Duddell and the likes of Daughter, Chas Smash (Madness), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) and Mancunian poet Mike Garry.

The quartet have led workshops for the Lycée Maurice Ravel, in Saint Jean de Luz, and whilst acting as the South West Youth Orchestra resident string quartet. They look forward to participating in further outreach projects in the near future.