Birmingham Conservatoire
YMF 2005
![[Nero String Quartet]](images/2005/nero240.jpg)
THE NERO STRING QUARTET was formed in 2001 at the Birmingham Conservatoire, and are studying with John Todd, former cellist of the Coull Quartet and David Angel, violinist with the Maggini Quartet. They have participated in masterclasses with Andrew Watkinson, violinist from the Endellion Quartet, a bursary course and recital with Michael Bochmann, masterclasses with Bernard Gregor Smith, cellist from the Lindsay Quartet, William Howard and Jane Salmon from the Schubert Ensemble, The Carducci Quartet, The Allegri Quartet, Brian Hawkins and, most recently, a residential course with the Maggini Quartet.
In April 2003 they attended the 11th International Chamber Music course in Spain, where they received coaching from Rasvan Neculai, cellist of the Silvestri Quartet, Nicusor Silaghi, violinist of the Transylvanian Quartet, Viorel Tudor, violist of the Extremadura Orchestra and Jose Luis Castillo.
The Nero String Quartet performs on a regular basis, both within conservatoire and external venues. Recent performances have included recitals of the Prokofiev Quartet no. 2 op. 92, Shostakovich quartets 1 and 7, Gordon Jacob's suite for recorder and string quartet, Bartok Quartet no. 4, the Brahms Piano Quintet with pianist Alan Schiller and the Elgar Piano Quintet with pianist John Humphreys.
Having received the Derek Young Memorial Award and Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music prize, the Nero String Quartet have performed a number of concerts in association with these awards, including a concert for Birmingham Chamber Music Society.
In January 2004 the Nero Quartet represented Birmingham Conservatoire in the International String Quartet Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music, performing Haydn's op. 103 and giving the premiere a work commissioned for them by composer Christopher McClelland. Also during 2004 they participated in concerts and courses in France, at Ludlow and Dudley Chamber Music societies, and took part in the London String Quartet Festival, performing an open masterclass with the Vanburgh Quartet at the Royal College of Music.