Named after Villiers Street in London, the Villiers Quartet (VQ) has been praised for their ‘exquisite ensemble playing’ (Seen & Heard International), and their absolute ‘commitment and virtuosity’ (The Sunday Times). The Villiers Quartet is the Quartet-in-Residence at the Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building at St Hilda’s College, Oxford University.

Hailed as ‘Champions of British Music’ (The Observer), the Villiers Quartet is one of the most recognised quartets in the UK for the performance of British music, releasing acclaimed recordings of works by Elgar, Delius, Peter Racine Fricker, William Sterndale Bennett, David Matthews, William Alwyn and Kuljit Bhamra.

As part of their encompassing Diversity and the British String Quartet Symposium at Oxford University in 2021, the VQ commissioned five new works from British composers for their From Home: VQ Commissions project, to reflect the life-changing impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic had upon artists.

The Villiers Quartet has been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and on NPO Radio 4 live from the Concertgebouw. The VQ has been featured on BBC’s In Tune and The Andrew Marr Show and on the score to the BBC Film’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The VQ has presented masterclasses at many institutions including Oxford University, Duke University, Dartmouth College, University of Nottingham, Syracuse University, Cal State LA, Jacksonville University, and Indiana University South Bend. As ambassadors for contemporary music, the VQ has given premieres and performances of music by British composers including Anthony Payne, Alexander Goehr, Martyn Harry, David Matthews, and Elizabeth Kelly. With the From Home Commissions, the VQ is pleased to have brought to light quartets by Florence Anna Maunders, Philip Herbert, Alex Ho, Robert Fokkens, and Jasmin Kent Rodgman.

The broad curiosity of the Villiers Quartet and its passion for teaching and performing have made the VQ a valuable resource for students and audiences alike. Inspiration comes from the heart of the Villiers Quartet’s philosophy: to believe in the art of string quartet.