Opus13 Wins 2025 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition

The Swedish-Norwegian string quartet has won £10,000 cash prize plus professional development opportunities

The sixteenth edition of the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition has recently come to a close. Founded in 1979 and hosted triennially, the competition has launched the careers of a number of ensembles — with its former first prize winners including the Van Kuijk, Arcadia, Danish, Formosa, Atrium, Hagen, and Takács String Quartets.

This year's first prize winner is the Swedish-Norwegian string quartet Opus13 .  Alongside a £10,000 cash prize, the quartet will receive a package of professional development opportunities including a Wigmore Hall recital, a UK tour, residencies in North America, and a performance at the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam in 2026.

Second Prize and £6,000 went to the Terra String Quartet, while Third Prize and £3,000 went to Quartet Integra.

The jury comprised John Gilhooly (Chair), Peter Jarůšek, Nina Lee, Heime Müller, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Lesley Robertson, and Mark Steinberg.

"This competition remains a vital platform for the most promising young string quartets worldwide," Gilhooly said. "We were delighted to award First Prize to Opus13, whose performance in the Final was both technically superb and emotionally compelling. Congratulations to our winners and to all the quartets taking part, whose performances over the past week have been superb. My sincere thanks go to all sponsors, partners and donors whose support enables us to provide not only financial prizes but also significant artistic opportunities, which are invaluable for the development of these young quartets.”

Formed at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, Opus13 comprises violinists Sonoko Miriam Welde (29) and Edvard Erdal (28), violist Albin Uusijärvi (30) and cellist Daniel Thorell (27). They are the recipients of the 2nd prize winners of the Banff International String Quartet Competition 2022 and the Norwegian Equinor Classical Music Award. The Opus13s are founders and artistic directors of Vinterspill på Lillehammer, a chamber music festival in the winter town of Lillehammer.