The Aviv Quartet has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin, and l'Auditorium du Louvre, and at festivals including Verbier, Aix-en-Provence, and Davos. Trained directly in the traditions of three of the 20th century's defining string quartets, the ensemble carries one of the most distinguished artistic lineages in chamber music today.

Today, 27 years in and with three founding members still on board, our mission is to breathe life into the bread and butter of the string quartet repertoire while shining a spotlight on the compelling music of our time. This commitment led us to perform the complete Beethoven cycle before any of us turned 30, while also expanding the repertoire through commissions by established composers such as Mohammed Fairouz, Matan Porat or John Harbison. The joy of sharing the music we love with audiences in the most direct way remains the essence of our experience as musicians - it is the “glue” that has kept us together for more than half our lives. We were fortunate to have had inspiring mentors, including the members of the Cleveland Quartet, Walter Levin of the LaSalle Quartet, and the Amadeus Quartet. Over the past 12 years, succeeding the LaSalle Quartet as Quartet-in-Residence at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has become a deeply fulfilling part of our lives. Sharing the experience we’ve gained onstage, we maintain individual studios, mentor young ensembles, and are particularly excited about the recent revival of the renowned graduate string quartet residency program.

Our unusual journey has been fundamental in shaping who we are. Beyond the demands of our shared professional path, we have walked together as friends who have truly become family. From late-night debates about tempo and sight-reading marathons to raising our children alongside one another while balancing an international concert career, we have shared every stage of life. This closeness has created a deep and unique bond that continues to shape our identity, both on stage and beyond.

Their recordings of Schubert for the Naxos and Aparté labels have received unanimous critical acclaim, earning "5 diapasons" and "Supersonic" from Pizzicato. The new recording captures the Schubert String Quintet performed with Erben at the Salle de Musique de la Chaux-de-Fonds, deepening a relationship that traces directly to the heart of the European quartet tradition.

What distinguishes the Aviv Quartet is a shared interpretive rigor that all four members describe independently: a deep, sustained relationship with the musical text that prioritizes meaning over display. Their sound is defined by richness, depth, and an intensity that captures the listener's attention without ever becoming aggressive.

The Aviv Quartet was awarded the Grand Prix and four special prizes at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (1999), First Prize at the Charles Hennen Competition (1999), Second Prize and the Schubert Prize at the International Schubert and Modern Music Competition in Graz (2003), and Second Prize and the International Critics Prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition (2003). Additional honors include the Israeli Ministry of Culture Award and the German Culture Ministry Award.

Inspired by Switzerland’s longstanding history as a crossroads of international dialogue and refuge, the Aviv Quartet seeks to embody through music a vision of openness, peace, and human connection. Central to the Quartet’s artistic identity is a hermeneutic approach to music making: a deep engagement with the meaning of a work through attentive listening, study, and interpretation. Rather than imposing subjective narratives or relying solely on historical convention, the quartet approaches each score as a living text whose meaning must be brought to light through the music itself. This search for unity between the composer’s gesture, the performers’ gesture, and the listener’s experience shapes the ensemble’s rehearsal process, programming choices, and artistic collaborations.

The Aviv Quartet is particularly drawn to works of strong existential resonance, music that speaks directly to contemporary experience and illuminates enduring human questions. Their acclaimed recordings, including projects pairing Beethoven with Steve Reich, reflect this commitment to repertoire that combines structural rigor with emotional and philosophical depth. Recordings for Naxos and other labels featuring works by Shostakovich, Schulhoff, Hoffmeister, Dohnányi, and Schubert have been praised for their freshness, precision, and vibrant musicianship.

The Quartet’s name, Aviv, derives from the Hebrew word for “spring,” evoking renewal, vitality, and return to origins. The ensemble continues to embrace the name as an expression of its artistic philosophy: a continual search for meaning, energy, and truth through music.

May 2026 – Please do not edit without permission.