Violist

Praised for their 'immaculate precision and spirit' (The Strad) and 'cultured tone' (Arts Desk), the Solem Quartet has established itself as one of the most innovative quartets of its generation. A 2020 awardee of the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund, the Solem Quartet takes its place amongst the UK’s brightest artistic voices.

Ryoji Ikeda: op. 2 + 3

St Giles Cripplegate

The Solem Quartet stands apart for its adventurous approach, taking the string quartet genre to new and unexpected places. Praised for ‘immaculate precision and spirit’ (The Strad), the quartet uses inventive musical pairings to uncover fresh perspectives and bold musical storytelling.

The group’s latest project is forged in the sounds of mills, mines, and factory floors. Workers’ songs ring out through the music as weaving looms clatter and churn, their archive recordings becoming part of the quartet’s sound world. From traditional arrangements to Britten, new works, and a reimagining of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart, this journey cuts through the industrial noise to reveal the legacy of communities built on graft, ingenuity, and resilience.

Violist

Stephen Upshaw

Events

Upcoming events

May 5, 2027

Solem Quartet: Industry · Royal Northern College of Music

Past events

Feb 21, 2026

Ryoji Ikeda: op. 2 + 3 · Barbican Centre

Future and recently performed repertoire

Viola in Quartet No 2 (2nd movement) by Britten

Royal Northern College of Music

About

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