Gildas Quartet

Christopher Jones violin
Gemma Sharples violin
Francesca Gilbert viola
Anna Menzies cello

Praised for their ‘energy, verve and refreshing approach’, their bold and explorative attitude to performance has been recognised by the International Franz Schubert and Modern Music Competition, Graz, where they were first prize winners of the inaugural ‘Audience Engagement’ Award in 2018.

…really made the occasion worthwhile – The Sunday Times  

…exquisite playing… we’re running out of superlatives! – The Strad

Equally passionate about new music and works from the quartet canon, the Gildas have a concert series called ‘First Nights, Last Rites’ in which they commission pieces to be partnered with late well-loved quartets. The first instalment, a new piece by Philip Cashian, was conceived alongside Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’, receiving its premiere at the St Magnus Festival. The quartet have recently completed a recording of two works by Cheryl Frances-Hoad to be included in a disc for the Champs Hill label. In the past few years they have given recitals at international festivals such as Two Moors, Oxford Lieder, Kings Lynn and Cheltenham, and have collaborated with musicians such as the Brodsky Quartet, Nicholas Daniel, Robin Tritschler, Alexander Baillie and Matthew Barley.

The quartet are City Music Foundation Artists and Associate Ensemble at the Birmingham Conservatoire. They have studied with Oliver Wille, Robin Ireland, and Catherine Manson, and have also benefited from coaching and masterclasses from Gabor Takacs Nagy, Paul Cassidy and András Keller among others. They have frequently been featured by the Park Lane Group and are grateful for awards and support from the Richard Carne Trust, Tunnell Trust and the RNCM. The Gildas Quartet are one of only eight string quartets to have been selected to compete in the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and have made a tour of China and visits to St John’s Smith Square and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.