Violist Clifton Harrison Departs from the Kreutzer Quartet

The violist is leaving to pursue his career in performing, lecturing, recording, and researching

Formed in 1988, the UK-based Kreutzer Quartet has appeared regularly at major venues in London and has made many live and studio recordings for the BBC. Its violist, Clifton Harrison, has recently announced on his social media that it is time he moves on from the ensemble.

The other quartet members include violinists Peter Sheppard Skærved and Mihailo Trandafilovski, and cellist Neil Heyde.

"After an amazing decade (nearly) with the Kreutzer Quartet, it’s time for me to move on," Harrison writes. "With a new year comes a new chapter. Playing alongside the guys has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. We've made some incredible music together - I'm so proud of the many recordings and all those unforgettable concerts!

"Huge thanks to Peter, Mihailo, and Neil Heyde - I've learned so much from you guys, and I'll miss sharing the recording studio and concert stage (and the laughs!) with you. The Kreutzers will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Kreutzers.

"As for me, I'm thrilled to continue performing and recording, along with my research and lecturing! I've got some incredible projects in the pipeline that I can't wait to share – more on that later."

The group garnered numerous awards and citations in the coming years, including being selected for the 1996-1997 National Federation of Music Societies Tour. They have a particularly strong association with the Metier label, and have also recorded for Naxos, Toccata, NMC, Chandos, PARMA, Guild and New Focus. The group has served as artist-in-residence at Oxford University, Goldsmiths, Southampton, and Bath Spa University.

Parallel to his quartet duties, American viola and viola d’amore player Clifton Harrison regularly gives masterclasses, workshops, and lectures worldwide. As a researcher, Clifton focuses on three distinct areas: Seventeenth and eighteenth-century viola d’amore music from the Germanic region, Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse classical and contemporary composers/sound artists, and South American baroque composers of color.

He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, The Juilliard School, and the Royal Academy of Music. Clifton records extensively for film, television, and video games and can be heard on hundreds of international soundtracks. In 2019, the Governing Body and the Honours Committee of the Royal Academy of Music elected Harrison Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).