Britten Intercollegiate Competition

Thursday 25 April 2013

The Vasara Quartet has won joint first prize at the Britten Intercollegiate String Quartet Competition, which was contested by quartets from eight of the UK conservatoires.

The intercollegiate event was sponsored by the Britten-Pears Foundation and celebrated the early chamber works of Britten in his centenary year. The Vasara Quartet, comprising RCM scholars Emma Oldfield, Jessica Coleman, Emma Purslow (all supported by a Douglas and Hilda Simmonds Award) and Kristiana Ignatjeva (supported by a Lucy Ann Jones Award), performed Britten’s Rhapsody for string quartet, Three Divertimenti and Alla Marcia.

The members of the quartet were thrilled and surprised to win despite being the youngest quartet to perform. Jessica commented: "We knew beforehand that we would be the youngest participants by at least three years, so went into the competition viewing it as a fun opportunity to perform!”