Leon String Quartet Kent

Leon String Quartet Kent is based in Canterbury, Kent UK and plays across Kent, London and the south-east. The quartet has played numerous recitals since it first formed in 2010. Their dynamic and innovative playing has won them fans across Kent. As well as recitals, the quartet plays for weddings, parties and corporate events. Click here to go to ‘Weddings’.

Leon String Quartet Kent was established at Canterbury Christ Church University where all four members studied. Half the quartet is from Canterbury itself - Kammy Pike (violin) and Matthew Brown (viola). Karen Jolliffe (violin) and Mike Bacon(cello) moved from Essex and Cornwall respectively. Whilst at Canterbury Christ Church University the quartet was coached by violist Martin Outram of the Maggini String Quartet, performing regularly in the university’s chamber music series.

Highlights from previous years include the premiere of Sam Messer’s three movement work, ‘Belgrade’, for string quartet and soprano, with Lucinda Drelaud. The work was well received and went on to win first prize at the Canterbury Composer’s Competition in 2011.  In 2012 the quartet featured as part of the Bayle Music series in Folkestone, playing a stirring interpretation of Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’ quartet.

At the beginning of 2013 the Leon String Quartet Kent recorded their first demo album. The album consisted of excerpts from their most recent repertoire, including Mozart’s String Quartet in G, Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’, Haydn’s Opus 64 no.6,  Bridge’s ‘Three Idylls’ and Webern’s single slow movement for string quartet, ‘Langsamer Satz’. The members of Leon String Quartet Kent look forward to their next recording project, where they will focus on some of the lesser known string quartet repertoire. Click here to go to ‘Recordings’. Or go to leonquartet.bandcamp.com.

Since 2010 the Leon String Quartet Kent has gone on to perform across the South East, including at Canterbury Cathedral and Sounds New Contemporary Music Festival. In 2013 the quartet will make appearances at the Astor Community Theatre in Deal, St Gregory’s Centre for Music and the Beaney Institute in Canterbury City Centre.

For the latest updates on Leon String Quartet Kent go to: www.facebook.com/leonstringquartet