Biography

Kathryn Riley (violin 1) ~ Gemma Sharples (violin 2) ~ Amantha Wijesekera (viola) ~ Verity Evanson (cello)

The Holywell String Quartet was formed at Oxford University in 2004, taking its name from the Holywell Music Room, the first purpose-built concert hall in Britain. This venue saw the quartet's first public performance in early 2005 at the finals of the Oxford Chamber Music Prize.

During its time at Oxford the quartet received coaching from members of the Allegri String Quartet and the Wihan Quartet of Prague, participated in masterclasses with Peter Maxwell Davis and was offered several opportunities to perform.  

In 2006 The Hollywell String Quartet was awarded the Joan Conway Scholarship to further its development. All ensemble members have since gone on to study for postgraduate diplomas at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London and the quartet is currently working with the Badke Quartet.

In late 2006 the quartet was invited to perform the Mendelssohn octet in a Cavatina concert with the Wihan Quartet of Prague. In 2007 the Quartet won first prize in a competition that provided the opportunity to perform this same work with the Allegri String Quartet in the Holywell Music Room. In October 2008 they gave a recital of Haydn, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn at the Bollington Arts Centre and in January 2009 will be performing the same programme in a lunchtime concert at St. David's Hall, Cardiff.

Over the years the quartet has taken a keen interest in contemporary music, premiering works by composers such as Tim Benjamin, Hugh Brunt, and Virginia Samuel