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EXPLORE OUR 2026 SEASON
Presenting our 2026 Season: Storytellers.
Behind every piece of music is a story and throughout our 2026 Season, we’re diving into them. Across concerts, collaborations, workshops and communities we’ll explore how composers transform stories and experiences into sound. We’ll boldly explore more compositional voices than ever before, beginning with early folk melodies, and classical masterworks that resonate through the centuries, through to modern-day Grammy winners and the distinctive voices of Aotearoa. The three string quartets of Benjamin Britten form the heart of our 2026 Season, to mark the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death.
Storytellers showcases a rich cross-section of our society and celebrates the art of storytelling through music. Join us in 2026 as together we explore these musical stories.
Adam International Chamber Music Festival 2026Thu, 29 JanNCMA (& other venues)
Adam Summer School Open MasterclassesMon, 09 FebNelson Centre of Musical Arts
INTRODUCING OUR NEW CELLIST
We are thrilled to announce that internationally renowned cellist Martin Smith will join the NZSQ in 2026. Martin will bring an impressive wealth of skills and talent to Aotearoa as he transitions into the role over the first half of 2026, beginning permanently in July.
In the meantime, we hope you'll join us in giving Martin a warm welcome!
YOUR STRING QUARTET
We are the New Zealand String Quartet - Te Rōpū Tūrū o Aotearoa, the country's longest-serving professional chamber music ensemble. We were established in 1987 to give New Zealanders access to world-class chamber music at home. Nearly four decades later, we’re still going strong. Through memorable concerts, dynamic cross-genre collaborations, musical workshops and mentoring, we’re committed to making chamber music exciting and accessible to all New Zealanders.
Want to learn more? See ‘what is a string quartet?’ or read about the history of the NZSQ.
SUPPORT US
Love what we do? Make a donation today. Whether it’s a one-off gift, or an annual donation, every little bit helps us bring world-class chamber music to New Zealanders.
Thank you to the individuals and organisations that support us. It takes a village to keep the music playing and we’re incredibly grateful for ours.
