Leonkoro Quartet named Royal Academy of Music Nina Drucker Fellows

The Royal Academy of Music has confirmed the appointment of the Leonkoro Quartet as its Nina Drucker Fellows, a prestigious role the ensemble will hold from 2026 to 2029. This fellowship is designed to nurture promising string quartets at the outset of their careers, providing them with significant performance platforms and opportunities to engage in the Academy’s vibrant chamber music environment.

During their tenure, the Leonkoro Quartet will be actively involved in coaching Academy students as well as delivering performances, thereby contributing to the institution’s chamber music activities. This engagement underscores the quartet’s commitment not only to their own artistic development but also to fostering the next generation of musicians.

Formed by violinists Jonathan Schwarz and Emiri Kakiuchi, violist Mayu Konoe, and cellist Lukas Schwarz, the Leonkoro Quartet has rapidly gained recognition on the international stage. Their accolades include top prizes at major contests such as the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition. They have also been honored with several awards including the Jürgen Ponto Foundation Music Prize, the MERITO String Quartet Award, the Concertgebouw’s Young Talent Award, and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.

Their artistic journey has been supported by influential mentors across Europe. The group received tutelage from Heime Müller of the Artemis Quartet at Lübeck University of Music, and Günter Pichler at Madrid’s Chamber Music Institute of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía. Supplementary guidance came from Eckart Runge, Gregor Sigl, and the renowned pianist Alfred Brendel, enriching their interpretive and technical skills.

The quartet’s performance history spans prestigious festivals such as Verbier, Gstaad Menuhin, Salzburg, and the Barcelona String Quartet Biennale. Their concert appearances include distinguished venues like Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, Konserthuset Stockholm, Madrid’s Auditorio Nacional de Música, Warsaw Philharmonic, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

From 2022 to 2024, the Leonkoro Quartet was featured as one of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists, a platform that further amplified their profile. They continue to be associated with Wigmore Hall as Associate Artists through 2031, emphasizing their sustained presence in the chamber music circuit.

The Nina Drucker Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music is an important initiative aimed at supporting early-career quartets by giving them access to both internal and external performance opportunities. The recognition and responsibilities that come with the fellowship position the Leonkoro Quartet to enhance their artistic growth while contributing meaningfully to the Academy’s educational mission.

Details on specific projects or performances planned during the fellowship period have yet to be disclosed. However, given the ensemble’s track record and the Academy’s rich chamber music tradition, these upcoming years are anticipated to be significant in solidifying the quartet’s place in the classical music landscape.

This announcement reflects the Royal Academy of Music’s ongoing commitment to identifying and nurturing outstanding young talent within the string quartet domain, ensuring a continued legacy of chamber music excellence.