Jade String Quartet

There's 2 chances to catch Jade String Quartet playing some absolutely amazing string quartets. In case you miss August 2nd at Symphonia Hall in Auckland CBD, come out to the School of Philosophy August 9th in East Auckland. Both stunning locations!

Info for our next concerts, coming up very soon!

See you there :)

The Jaders xo

Not quite a string quartet, but there is a viola!!
Join Robert with his musical colleagues,
Bede Hanley Oboe, and Sarah Watkins on piano. It will be a wonderful concert!

Concert 2 of the Mt Eden Chamber Music Festival features three highly respected musicians who are very well known to Auckland audiences - Bede Hanley (oboe), Robert Ashworth (viola) and Sarah Watkins (piano). Bede and Robert are both Section Principals in the Auckland Philharmonia, of which Sarah is also a regular player, and together the three have formed Trio Obscura.

Trio Obscura's name was inspired by the somewhat unusual combination of instruments that comprise the ensemble: as it turns out, very little has been written for oboe, viola, and piano. However, the music in this programme will vividly showcase the musicality and lyricism on offer when these three sonorities come together.

Alyssa Morris’s “The Big Questions” (2024) is a poignant reflection on the uncertainties of our time. Morris’s virtuosic writing and characteristic wit are ever-present, yet at its heart lies a search for peace and understanding.

Written more than a century earlier, Charles Loeffler's “Deux Rhapsodies” are richly coloured and dramatic tone poems that capture the atmosphere and imagination of French Impressionism.

We are also privileged to present a new work, “Five Emotional States”, written by Janet Jennings for Trio Obscura. In the composer’s words, the piece is “intended to be fun to play and entertaining for audiences, with its quixotic changes of mood, and journeys between atonality and downright tunefulness.”

Book concert tickets by emailing the Eden Arts Trust at [email protected]

Further info - https://www.edenarts.art/events/eden-arts-music/chamber-music-festival

Red carpet moment! So stoked that we were nominated for a Tūī, even though we didn’t win we had the best time ever. A massive thank you to Anthony Ritchie for writing such incredible music! And to Steve at Rattle Records, and Ken Young who produced the album. Melencholia is available to buy through Rattle Records, Bandcamp or at various record stores like the awesome Ōtepoti-based Relics.

Catch us at the Aotearoa Music Awards on the livestream tonight at 7pm!!

Link here:

Live: 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards | RNZ Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Come and join us on May 24th for a fantastic concert featuring Borodin's most beloved quartet, a quirky late Mozart, and 2 new string quartets from NZ Erin Fagan - Composer.
If you haven't made it to the Symphonia Hall for a concert, now's your chance! You will love it.
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/jade-at-symphonia/auckland
Or buy tickets at the door.
3pm start.

Auckland | Jade String Quartet Jade String Quartet in Auckland perform concerts of New Zealand compositions and well known masterpiece. They're members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchstra.

Here's the team responsible for the recording 'Melencolia' being nominated for the Aotearoa Music Awards...The Jade Quartet are Miranda Adams & Charmian Keay, violins, Robert Ashworth, viola, James Yoo, cello, and the recording team of Ken Young, producer, and Steve Garden, engineer & director of Rattle Records...plus moi. Ka pai guys.

My recording 'Melencolia', featuring his three string quartets, has been nominated as one of the three finalists in the Aotearoa Music Awards for 2026. I'm so grateful for the wonderful playing of The Jade Quartet and the recording skills of Rattle Records for making this recording possible. This event, known colloquially as “the Tuis”, covers a wide spectrum of New Zealand music. 'Melencolia' has been nominated under the category of Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau/Best Classical Artist of the year. I'm delighted to be nominated alongside my former student Michael Norris, who has a nomination with his 'Rerenga'.
If you are interested in accessing the recording go to:
https://rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/melencolia

If you would like to purchase the CD go to:
https://relicsmusic.co.nz/products/ritchie-anthonymelencolia-jade-string-quartet-cd-new?_pos=1&_sid=2b0af6fef&_ss=r