New Platform Launched for Emerging String Quartets

The MERITA Platform brings together 38 young string quartets, and challenges them to present innovative concert experiences in Europe's heritage venues

The MERITA Platform, a scheme that provides opportunities, mentoring, and concert locations for emerging European string quartets, is now live. The project is coordinated by Le Dimore del Quartetto and brings together 17 musical and cultural organizations from 12 European countries.

38 young string quartets, with players aged between 18 and 35, have been selected to take part in the project. These early-career ensembles were selected from 61 applicants spread across 27 different countries.

The quartets will take part in a concert series in which they are challenged to present an innovative and unique performing project. The platform will then stage these concerts in heritage locations, such as historical houses or cultural sites from Europa Nostra's 7 Most Endangered program.

In 2021 the project received major funding from the Creative Europe Program of the European Commission — with a total of €2,100,000 being pledged for the project by the European Union.

You can read the full list of quartets taking part in the project on MERITA's website.

"We are thrilled to announce that MERITA gets to the heart and its digital platform is finally online!" wrote Le Dimore del Quartetto. "The platform will be a reference area and promotional showcase for artists, presentation of cultural sites and historical houses, mapping of professionals, dissemination of training materials and content for the public."