Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is delighted to announce the exceptional Solstice and Wu String Quartets as its Junior Fellows for the academic year 2010-11.

The Solstice String Quartet, comprising Jamie Campbell, Helena Nicholls (violins), Meghan Cassidy (viola) and Gregor Riddell ('cello), has been awarded The Richard Carne Junior Fellowship for Instrumental Chamber Ensemble. The Wu String Quartet, comprising Qian Wu, Mathieu Van Bellen (violins), Matthew Kettle (viola) and Magda Pietraszewska ('cello), receives The King Charles (formerly Bulldog) Junior Fellowship for String Quartet.

Trinity Laban Junior Fellowships enable outstanding ensembles with an emerging professional profile to bridge the gap between full-time conservatoire-based study and the music profession. Both quartets will undertake an intensive year-long professional development period, mentored by senior members of Trinity Laban's Music Faculty, while working regularly with other musicians within and outside the Conservatoire.

The Solstice String Quartet formed in 2003 and is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the finest young quartets in the UK. Selected by both the Tillett Trust and Park Lane Group in 2008, the quartet made its Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room debut in 2009 and received the ensemble award in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition. As well as a passion for the classical quartet canon and new music - the quartet has premiered major works by Joseph Phibbs, Graham Ross, John Metcalf, Richard Blackford and Giles Swayne - its members have coached players at the Benslow Music Centre, Wells Cathedral School, Dartington International Summer School and Pro Corda.

The Wu Quartet formed in 2002 at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. Selected by the Park Lane Group, the quartet made its Purcell Room debut in 2009, returning to the venue in June 2010 as winner of the Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Scholarship Ensemble Award. The quartet has studied with György Pauk, taken masterclasses with Simon Rowland Jones, Peter Cropper, and Bernard Greenhouse of the Beaux Arts Trio, and regularly attends Pro Corda Musical Encounters to receive coaching from the Wihan Quartet. The Wu Quartet regularly hosts workshops and masterclasses around the UK, and recently became only the second British based string quartet to be accepted for the European Chamber Music Academy. The group will make its Wigmore Hall debut in 2011.

Former Trinity Laban Junior Fellows include critically-acclaimed names from the chamber music world, including the Elysian Quartet, Brodowski Quartet, Carducci Quartet, Badke Quartet and the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio.

Trinity Laban wishes to express its thanks to the Richard Carne Trust, the Bulldog Trust and the Coln Trust for the generous support which makes these Junior Fellowships possible.

Official Wu Quartet website

Official Solstice String Quartet website

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