About Us

Archaeus Quartet
Ann Hooley, Rosemary Lock - violins
Elizabeth Turnbull - viola
Martin Bradshaw - cello


The uniqueness of the string quartet lies in the fact that the greatest composers have chosen this medium to express their most profound and intimate musical thoughts. It is this which has inspired the Archaeus Quartet in their approach to preparation, rehearsal and performance. Within the group the individuality of each player is combined with a unity of intention which creates performances of character and cohesion

The Archaeus is a well established group, formed in 1990, which has enjoyed a busy schedule from its very first season, performing in music clubs and arts centres throughout the UK, and at the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London. The group has toured in Europe and played at Festivals including Warwick, Greenwich, King’s Lynn, Wooburn and at the ICA in London. 

As well as an extensive traditional concert repertoire the Archaeus has a strong commitment to the performance of rarely heard but high quality works of the 20th Century. Premieres include the piano quintet by Ruth Crawford Seeger, the quartet by Antonin Tucapsky and the London premiere of Leonard Salzedo’s 7th quartet, and world premieres of his 8th and 9th quartets.

“After I had heard my 7th String Quartet played by the Archaeus Quartet on October 30th last year I was so pleased with their performance that I decided to write a new quartet especially for them. I started it on October 31st and completed it exactly five weeks later, on December 5th.”

This work received its premiere at the Wigmore Hall in June 1995 when the Archaeus made its highly successful London debut. The fruitful friendship and collaboration with Salzedo resulted in two further quartets and the Sonata for violin and viola. 

CD recordings include the quartet by Minna Keal; quartets by York Bowen with the quintet for bass clarinet with Timothy Lines; quartets by Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach and Susan Spain-Dunk; Leonard Salzedo; and quartets by Cyril Scott.

All five CD’s have been received with critical acclaim. The recording of Salzedo quartets and the sonata for violin and viola (performed by its dedicatees Ann Hooley and Elizabeth Turnbull) was selected as Editor’s Choice in the Gramophone Magazine

The Archaeus has performed the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets in a series of six concerts three times: Oxford and Cumbria in 1998, and London in 1999. The Archaeus is delighted to have been invited to perform a fourth cycle at the Underground Theatre, Eastbourne and a fifth cycle in Robertsbridge, both starting in 2016.

For many years the Archaeus had a strong association with Trinity College of Music in London where the members regularly coached chamber music. The group has also been invited to coach and perform at established Summer Schools such as Beauchamp House, and Dartington International Summer School. There, in 1995, the quartet performed Schubert “Rondo” with Ruggiero Ricci. The Archaeus also ran its own Chamber Music Course in the Channel Islands.

In its early days the quartet received regular coaching from William Pleeth and worked closely with Eli Goren and Sandor Devich.

The quartet’s repertoire is also extended to include quintets and sextets. The Archaeus has had the privilege of collaborating with many esteemed artists including Thea King, Timothy Lines, Ruggiero Ricci, Philip Fowke and several fellow cellists and viola players. In April 2013 the Archaeus gave the UK premiere of Csaba Erdelyi’s exciting arrangement for string sextet of Mozart “Sinfonia Concertante” K364.