Introduction

Askonas Holt extends its successful collaboration with El Sistema from Venezuela to encompass the Simón Bolívar String Quartet. After many successful tours across some of Europe's and North America's most famous concert halls we are busy planning more dates in the future. Following the quartet's recording with Deutsche Grammophon earlier this year, the quartet are looking forward to concerts in Latin America and Europe in the upcoming season having just completed a successful tour of Japan. 

Created from within the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar, the Simón Bolívar String Quartet is composed of principal musicians of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. They have worked with such musical personalities as Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle.  The quartet has participated in masterclasses with the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Berlin Philharmonic String Quartet, Chilingirian String Quartet, Donald Weilerstein (Cleveland String Quartet), Andras Keller (Keller String Quartet) and Ulyses Ascanio, founding violinist of the Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela.  One of the aims of the Simón Bolívar String Quartet is the development of a network of string quartets in Venezuela and South America, with the purpose of propagating chamber music among children and young people in Latin America. 

The Simón Bolívar String Quartet has played across Venezuela, throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, performing in concerts as well as taking part in educational and community events. In 2010, the Quartet undertook a major tour of the United Kingdom, appearing at the Edinburgh International Festival and at the Southbank Centre in London. They continue to tour around the world during 2011 and 2012 with successful tours in Canada and Japan. 

In February 2012, the Simón Bolívar String Quartet recorded its first album for Deutsche Grammophon, which was released in early 2013.