Banff International String Quartet Festival Announces 2023 Program

Involving performances from a number of acclaimed artists, this year’s edition will be held from September 1–3, 2023

Canada's Banff International String Quartet Festival (BISQFest) was formed in 2017, following the success of the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC).

Led by Director of the BISQC Barry Shiffman, this year’s BISQFest will be the first in-person edition since 2018. Held across three days from September 1 in the Rocky Mountains of Banff, Alberta, the immersive event will comprise live concerts, movie screenings, artists’ talks, and open rehearsals. 

Featured performers at BISQFest 2023 include Barry Shiffman, VC Young Artist Viano String Quartet, New Orford String Quartet, Leonkoro Quartett, Dior Quartet, Gilles Vonsattel, Anna Štube, Ema Nikolovska, Michael Bridge, Thomas Wolf, Alon Nashman, Carmen Braden, Joel Quarrington, and Larry Weinstein.

Program repertoire comprises the string quartets of Britten, Beethoven, Haydn, Smetana, Christos Hatzis, Kevin Lau, Dinuk Wijeratne, Carmen Braden, Shostakovich, Schubert, and other works for soloists and ensembles, also fusing narration and acting.

BISQFest ticket and accommodation packages are now available, while individual event tickets will be released on June 15. For ticket passes and the Festival schedule, click here.

“BISQFest 2023 promises to be an exceptional experience for the music lover,” said Shiffman, violist and director of the BISQ Competition and Festival. “We have assembled a roster of two dozen brilliant musicians from around the world who will descend on Banff to create, perform, and celebrate the incredible riches of the chamber music repertoire. 

“I look forward to welcoming you to Banff Centre and do hope you can join us in September,” he continued. “A magical weekend of music in the mountains awaits.” 

The Viano String Quartet and 2019 BISQC winner performing Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 9 can be viewed below.

BISQC has supported the careers of emerging string quartets for 40 years. Its first edition was held in 1983 as a one-time event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its organizer, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. BISQFest is held in the years between the editions of the Competition.