Levon Chilingirian coaches the Amaia Quartet
Mozart String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 “Dissonance”
Shostakovich String Quartet No. 10 in Ab Major, Op. 118
The Long Gallery, Lauderdale House
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Alexandra Lomeiko and Milan Berginc, violins
Varinia Oyola-Rebaza, viola
Molly McWhirter, cello
The Amaia Quartet has risen to prominence as an exceptional string quartet based in London, U.K. An internationally diverse ensemble with members from 4 different corners of the world, New Zealand, Peru, Serbia, and Scotland, the quartet shares a unifying passion for chamber music and a strong desire to explore the repertoire of the string quartet.
Formed in 2011 at the Royal Academy of Music in London as the Alauda Quartet, they won the First Prize and Audience Prize at the International Chamber Music Competition “Massimo Antonelli”, Italy 2018, and at the Orlando International Competition in 2017. Selected as Park Lane Group artists in 2015, they gave their debut recitals at the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and St. Martin-in-the-fields in London. They were also selected as Concert Artists with Making Music for 2016-17 and were invited as artists in residence at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh in February 2018. Furthermore, they were selected as the only European string quartet featured at Canada’s Banff Center Evo Fest: Evolution Concert Series in 2021.
The quartet enjoys a busy performing schedule and has performed extensively across the UK at venues and festivals.
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Levon Chilingirian is an internationally acclaimed performer and teacher, chamber musician, soloist and ensemble director of Armenian Heritage.
Devoted to the development of outstanding chamber groups, orchestral musicians, soloists and teachers over many years, he is a Chamber Musician in Residence at the Royal Academy of Music. Former students now occupy important positions throughout the world as chamber musicians, soloists, orchestral players, teachers and Festival organisers.
Levon’s own artistic influences come from his uncle, Manoug Parikian, members of the Amadeus Quartet and Hans Keller. His long-standing partnership with the late Clifford Benson was launched by winning the first prizes in both the 1969 BBC Beethoven Competition and the 1971 Munich Duo International Competition.
In 1971, along with Philip De Groote, Mark Butler and Simon Rowland-Jones, Levon founded the Chilingirian Quartet. After winning a place with Young Concert Artists in New York, the Quartet went on to become one of the most active and celebrated ensembles on the international scene. With tours to over fifty countries on six continents, its highly regarded and wide-ranging repertoire spans classical to contemporary works, premiering a number of pieces of contemporary composers. The Quartet’s discography of over fifty recordings includes quartets and quintets by Mozart, Bartok, Dvorak, Haydn, Schubert, Debussy, Ravel and Beethoven. Levon also performs as a soloist and chamber musician with other outstanding artists and conductors.
Levon’s numerous DVD masterclasses have created an international profile for his style and integrity as a teacher. He has given masterclasses and coaching at festivals and schools including the Sibelius Academy, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, the Lake District Summer School, West Dean College summer course, and El Sistema in Venezuela. He was the artistic director and first violin of the Camerata Nordica in Sweden and served as artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and of the Pharos Festival in Cyprus.
Levon is privileged to play on a fine violin by Francesco Rugeri, made in 1679. He was awarded the OBE and the Cobbett Award for his services to music and works tirelessly to help and promote the younger generations of musicians by serving on juries of numerous competitions and awards.