Arts Global

Wendy Ghysels first violin
François James second violin
Robin Lemmel viola
Coralie Devars cello

Native of different countries of Europe, the four musicians of the Byron Quartet met around the Lemanic Basin, thanks to the impetus of Gàbor Takàcs-Nagy. For this reason they naturally pay tribute to Lord Byron, who was, by his acts and writings, the first great modern European.

The Byron Quartet started their training at the "Haute Ecole de Musique" in Geneva, in the class of Gàbor Takàcs-Nagy. There they obtained the String Quartet Master Diploma in 2010. In parallel, the Byron Quartet studied in the class of the Ysaÿe Quartet in the "Conservatoire National de Région" of Paris from 2006 to 2008. They also continued their training within the "Proquartet-CEMC" European program. They have had the opportunity to take part to the master classes of members of the Berg, Hagen, Cleveland and Belcea Quartets, as well as the master classes of Eberhard Felz and György Kurtàg.

For several years, the Byron Quartet has been engaged in numerous concerts: Guildhall Ensemble Festival of London, "Promenades Musicales de Fontainebleau", Festival of Bellerive, "Schubertiades", "Salle Paderewski" in Lausanne, Tonhalle in Zürich, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and more. They are regularly heard on the French-speaking Swiss radio Espace 2, and the German-speaking Swiss radio DSR 2.

In parallel with their activity as performers, the members of the Byron Quartet are actively involved in musical pedagogy and organise numerous training courses.

In 2009, the Byron Quartet won the Audience Prize of the Chamber Music Contest of the "Pour-cent culturel Migros", winning the benefit of its support for two years. The Byron Quartet also benefits from the active support of Proquartet-CEMC, of the SACEM, of the SPEDIDAM, as well as of the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation.

In October 2010, the quartet recorded a Shostakovich CD (8th and 9th quartets, Polka and Elegy) for the French Label Aparté/Harmonia Mundi.

For further information, please visit the quartet's website, www.quatuorbyron.com.