Winner of the Grand Prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition 2025, the Katarina String Quartet has quickly established itself as one of North America’s most promising chamber music ensembles. A tight-knit, community-focused ensemble, it currently holds the position of String Quartet in Residence at The Juilliard School, where it explores the entire chamber music repertoire, from contemporary and classical works to folk tunes.
The KSQ’s 2025/26 season includes tours of the U.S., Dubai and Europe; concerts in and around New York City, including at Carnegie Hall; and a residency at the Avaloch Farm Institute. The KSQ recently won the ProQuartet Prize and the Drimnin String Quartet Academy Prize at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition 2025; previously, they won the Gold Medal and the BIPOC Prize at the St. Paul Chamber Music Competition 2024.
The quartet was founded in 2022 at McGill University under the direction of André Roy. Since then, the KSQ has worked extensively with members of the Juilliard, Alban Berg, Danel, Dover and Pacifica quartets, and has participated in prestigious programs such as IMS Prussia Cove and the McGill International String Quartet Academy (MISQA).
The KSQ’s name pays tribute to luthier Katarina Guarneri, wife of the famous violin maker Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù. Researchers believe she helped build her husband’s violins during the most productive years of his career. Inspired by Katarina, KSQ celebrates the countless people and communities behind the iconic figures of classical music, who contribute to the art we cherish. Known for the warmth of their performances and their community involvement, the KSQ performs regularly at community centers throughout New York as part of Juilliard’s Gluck Fellowship.