Esmé Quartet Announces New Violist

Belgian-American violist Dimitri Murrath has joined the award-winning quartet, succeeding Jiwon Kim in the role

Dimitri Murrath has been playing with the German-based Esmé Quartet since its U.S. tour in March 2023. The other members are South-Korean violinists Wonhee Bae and Yuna Ha and cellist Yeeun Heo.

“We are very excited to announce Dimitri Murrath has joined [us]...From the very first rehearsal, we felt such a deep musical connection that we were so happy to share our music together on stage with him!” the quartet posted on Facebook.

Born in Brussels, Murrath is a graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and New England Conservatory (NEC), studying with Natalia Boyarsky, David Takeno, and Kim Kashkashian.

Since winning first prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition and second prize at the First Tokyo International Viola Competition, he has performed regularly at the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Kioi Hall, and Théâtre de la Ville. 

In 2012, he became a laureate of the Juventus Festival, and in 2014, was an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient. As an educator, Murrath spent nine years on the viola and chamber music faculty at NEC, and has served on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 2017. 

“Murrath brings with him a wealth of experience and artistry that truly inspires us and we can’t wait to continue our journey with him. We would like to wish all the best for (previous violist) Jiwon for her future endeavors,” the group continued. “Welcome Dimitri to the Esmé Quartet, Inc.!” 

DANISH STRING QUARTET | SEKSTUR FROM VENDSYSSEL — THE PEAT DANCE | ESMÉ QUARTET | GYEONGGI PHILHARMONIC | 2023

In 2018, the Esmé Quartet was the first all-female string quartet to win first prize and four special prizes at London’s International String Quartet Competition, which launched its international career.

Additionally, the group has won first prize at the 55th Possehl Music Prize in Lubeck, third prize at the 2017 Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition, and received the Hans Gal Prize of the German Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz and the Villa Musica Foundation.

The ensemble has been Quartet in Residence at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and appeared at the Lucerne, Verbier, Schleswig-Holstein, and Wigmore Hall Festivals. Its mentors have included members of the Artemis, Kuss, and Alban Berg String Quartets, as well as Alfred Brendel, Eberhard Feltz, Andras Keller, Christoph Poppen, and Jonathan Brown.

Esmé Quartet’s upcoming performances this season include a Japan tour, plus appearances at Wigmore Hall, Stuttgart’s Liederhalle, Turin’s Teatro Vittoria, and the 2023 Hong Kong Arts Festival — performing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.