Nominated for the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Chamber Music Award, the Royal String Quartet is one of the most dynamically developing string quartets in the world today. Its repertoire combines outstanding musical works of the past with contemporary music, bravely pushing musical genres.

The RSQ was established at The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in 1998 and initially worked under the supervision of Professor Ryszard Duź from the Wilanów String Quartet. The RSQ’s artistic identity was shaped by post-graduate masterclasses with the Alban Berg Quartet at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne (2001-2004).

The critical breakthrough in the RSQ’s career came with the invitation to join BBC Radio 3’s prestigious New Generation Artists scheme (2004-2006) which promotes the most talented young musicians from all over the world.

The first international album of  the RSQ, recorded for Hyperion, was released in January 2009. It consisted of both Karol Szymanowski’s quartets and it also included a relatively unknown quartet by Ludomir Różycki (world premiere recording). It was hailed as the album of the month by “BBC Music Magazine” and received enthusiastic press reviews all over the world. Another achievement came with the release of the Quartet’s next album, this time with complete recordings of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki’s string quartets (Hyperion 2011). Critics consider this to be one of three most important interpretations of the repertoire, was Editor’s Choice in “Gramophone” and received high praise in “BBC Music Magazine”, “Diapason” (5 stars) and “The Strad”. In 2015 Szymanski and Mykietyn relaesed an album together which in 2016 gave them nomination to FRYDERYK, one of the most prestigious awards in polish music industry.

Since Autumn 2012 RSQ has been Quartet in Residence at Queen’s University Belfast. It also regularly conducts master classes in the Palace of Rybna. The Quartet has been invited to conduct summer courses in Dartington and at Lake District Summer School (Great Britain). The Royal String Quartet has received a Special Award of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage “in recognition of their contribution to Polish culture.”