Viatores Quartet appoints new violinist

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The Berlin-based Viatores Quartet has announced the appointment of German violinist Johannes Brzoska as its new second violin. Brzoska is currently studying at the University of Arts in Berlin with professor Nora Chastain, and takes over the role from Chilean violinist Patricio Velásquez Cárdenas.

‘We would like to thank Patricio for the invaluable part he played in the formation of our group and for the meaningful times we spent together,’ the quartet said in a statement on social media. ‘We wish him all the best for his future and all the success and happiness he deserves!’

The Viatores Quartet was established in 2023 at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Germany, and studies with Johanna Staemmler from the Armida Quartet and Tabea Zimmermann. The quartet won first prize and the Freunde Junger Musikern prize at the 2024 Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Competition, has performed at venues including the Berliner Philharmonie and Konzerthaus Berlin, and currently holds the David Shallon Scholarship from the David Shallon Foundation.

Brzoska joins British first violinist Louisa Staples, violist Gordon Lau from Hong Kong, and Turkish cellist Umut Saglam.

‘We could not be more thrilled to welcome Johannes to the group,’ the quartet exclusively told The Strad. ‘Johannes is a wonderful and insightful musician with a huge passion for chamber music and we are very much looking forward to our future together in this new chapter!’

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