Karelia String Quartet
Emil Hartikainen, violin
Megan Yang, violin
Felix Pascoe, viola
Daniel Schultz, cello
Formed in early 2024 at the Royal Academy of Music, the Karelia Quartet brings together violinists Megan Yang and Emil Hartikainen (who joined in 2025), violist Felix Pascoe, and cellist Daniel Schultz . The ensemble has quickly established itself as a dynamic young quartet with a distinctive voice and commitment to meaningful interpretation.
The quartet has studied under the mentorship of Alex Redington (former 1 violin of Doric String Quartet), Robin Wilson (RAM Violin Professor), and Sini Simonen (1 violin of Castalian String Quartet), with regular masterclasses from artists including Anthony Marwood, and Lawrence Power. Their musical excellence has been recognised with multiple awards, including:
1st Prize, Nina Drucker String Quartet Competition (2025)
1st Prize, Historical Women’s Composer Competition (2025)
1st Prize, Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Competition (2024)
2nd Prize, 2025 CAVATINA Chamber Music Competition at Wigmore Hall (2025)
2nd Prize, Nina Drucker String Quartet Competition (2024)
Some memorable performances and opportunities included; performing for His Majesty King Charles III at St James’s Palace, performing for HRH Duke and HRH Duchess of Wellington at Apsley House, recording at the Voces8 centre, The ensemble has participated in prestigious international festivals and courses, including the Danish String Quartet Academy, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), where they received the Oleg Kagan Memorial Fund Scholarship; the Hasdrubal Foundation residency in Hammamet, Tunisia; and an intensive chamber course in Conzano, Italy with Daniel Roberts (Castalian Quartet) and violist Simon Rowland-Jones.
Upcoming performances include a masterclass with Quatour Ébène at J & A Beare London, performing as festival artists in the 2026 Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and a curated residency in 2026 at Ferrandou Musique in France. The quartet has also been selected as 2025–26 ECMA Aspirants, with scheduled sessions throughout Europe, including in The Hague, Munich, and Manchester. They will also travel to Paris to participate in the 2026 Gunter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet) mastercourse hosted by ProQuartet Paris.
Currently, the Karelia Quartet is focused on developing deeper ensemble cohesion and musical communication, refining balance, and enhancing dynamic interplay.
Programme
13.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Clarinet Quintet in A, K. 581 'Stadler' (1789)
16.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in E, Op. 8 No. 1 'Spring' (1723)
16.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
Andante from String Quartet in F, Op. 77 No. 2 (1799)
17.7.
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732—1795):
Symphony in D minor, W. I/3 for strings and basso continuo (by 1768)
- Sergey Malov
- Timo-Veikko Valve
- Karelia String Quartet
- Gregor Hänssler
- Mira Maranta
- Nigel Thean
- Petteri Pitko
17.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in F minor, Op. 8 No. 4 'Winter' (1723)
19.7.
David Popper (1843—1913):
Requiem in F sharp minor, Op. 66 for three cellos and strings (1892)
Modulor-kvartetti
15.7.
György Kurtág (1926):
Hommage à Mihály András, 12 Microludes, Op. 13 for string quartet (1977)
15.7.
George Crumb (1929—2022):
Black Angels for electric string quartet (1970)
23.7.
Benjamin Britten (1913—1976):
String Quartet No. 2 in C, Op. 36 (1945)
23.7.
Johannes Brahms (1833—1897):
String Quintet No. 2 in G, Op. 111 (1890)
24.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
String Quartet No. 19 in C, K. 465 'Dissonance' (1785)