Dean Close School is delighted to announce the appointment of the Carducci Quartet from January 2011 as Quartet-in-Residence. The Quartet will be taking over from the very successful Head of Strings, Robert Bishop, who has been at the School since 2003.  The Carducci Quartet is recognised as one of today’s most exciting young string quartets and consists of two married couples: Matthew & Emma Denton and Eoin Schmidt-Martin & Michele Fleming. Matthew and Emma grew up in Gloucestershire and are well known to Dean Close as they both taught violin and cello respectively at the School ten years ago.

The Quartet will be working in all three schools – Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior Schools – where they will encourage pupils to develop a love of music through playing a string instrument, and inspire existing string players through instrumental lessons, chamber music coaching and taking masterclasses.  New string scholarships will also be established with the arrival of the group.

The Carducci is internationally renowned, performing over 100 concerts worldwide each year. They were winners of the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York, the Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition and were short-listed for the 2008 Royal Philharmonic Society Chamber Music Award.

Director of Music, Helen Porter, says:”I am absolutely delighted that the Carducci is joining us in January. Many of our musicians are already getting very excited at the prospect of playing alongside the Quartet and this firmly ensures the quality of string playing at Dean Close for the years to come.”

Emma Denton, the Quartet’s cellist, commented: “We're passionate about taking classical music to the next generation, so we are thrilled to be working so closely and regularly with the pupils.  It is great opportunity to work with string players of all ages and to build up the ensemble playing within the School. We also hope that the musicians will benefit from watching some open rehearsals and gain a real insight in to the life of a professional string quartet.  All four of us benefited from fabulous teaching and we are very keen to pass on some of the wonderful things we have learnt.”

“Dean Close has a wonderful tradition of music making and fantastic facilities - we can't wait to get stuck in!”

To find out more about Dean Close School please click here.