About Us

Kristian Winther – Violin
Anne Horton – Violin 
Stephen King – Viola
Rachel Johnston – Cello

The Australian String Quartet (ASQ) was established in 1985 and is Quartet in Residence at The University of Adelaide. The Quartet has had a major impact on the musical life of Australia, touring widely to capital centres and regional communities and commissioning many works by leading Australian composers. One of Australia’s finest music exports, the Quartet has appeared at international music festivals and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand and Asia in recent years. The Quartet is broadcast frequently on ABC Classic FM and regularly record for commercial release.

Featuring four of the most sought after musicians in Australia, the ASQ’s membership comprises Kristian Winther and Anne Horton – violins, Stephen King – viola and Rachel Johnston – cello. New to the Quartet in 2012, Kristian and Stephen join long-standing members, Anne and Rachel as the Quartet launches its next exciting era of music making.

The Quartet’s performance calendar for 2012 comprises national subscription tours in five Australian capital cities, regional music festivals including Dunkeld, Port Fairy and Freshwater festivals and a host of intimate performances in regional communities across Australia. Other highlights include two international tours, which will see the Quartet perform at the Trasimeno Music Festival in Italy and the Automne Musical d’Ollon in Switzerland among other prestigious concert halls across Europe and the UK.

Through the generosity of the Ngeringa Farm Arts Foundation and the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation the members of the ASQ are loaned very fine Italian instruments. These instruments, two Gaudagnini violins, a Guadagnini viola and a Grancino cello further support the Quartet in its delivery of musical performances of the highest international calibre.

With a commitment to developing the next generation of Australian music makers, 2012 will see the launch of the ASQ’s String Quartet Mentoring Program across Australia.