Vao String Quartet

Gershwin’s nephew (head of the Gershwin estate) said the Vao’s ‘arrangements and playing of my uncle’s songs are fantastic!’ It has been played on Classic FM, Radio 3 and Radio 2, including on Michael Parkinson’s show, and the quartet were also featured on BBC’s Friday Night is Music Night. In addition to a 4-star review in BBC Music Magazine, they have been featured in Gramophone Magazine & Classic FM Magazine.

Formed at the Royal Academy of Music, the quartet was awarded the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Prize (twice) and the John B. McEwen Prize before graduating with First Class Honours. The Academy awarded them the Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellowship, which they held for two years. The following year, they made their Purcell Room debut, which received a favourable review in ‘The Strad’ magazine. Already popular with music societies and festivals nationwide, the Quartet won a series of concerts in London at the Blackheath Halls and two recital tours of Scotland sponsored by the Tunnell Trust.

Vao has performed with the Alberni Quartet on many occasions, including performances of Mendelssohn’s ‘Octet’ on a set of Stradivarius instruments loaned by the Royal Academy. With over 50 quartets in their repertoire, they also have a wealth of experience in the jazz, rock, pop and film genres. They made their Wigmore Hall debut in an exhilarating collaboration with the Dominic Alldis jazz quartet, which was then taken on an extensive UK tour sponsored by the Arts Council. The Pavãos are experienced in the recording studio; they have been involved in such diverse projects as recording the music for a Rick Stein cookery programme, featuring on a CD of ‘James Bond’ film music and playing on the soundtrack for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of the ‘Sound of Music’. All four have enjoyed sharing a stage with some of the pop world’s greatest names.

They played in the ‘Party at the Palace’ for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Between them, they have worked with Sir Elton John, KanYe West, and Robbie Williams and, on the classical side, Katherine Jenkins and Pavorotti. The Quartet performed with Charlotte Church on ‘Parkinson’, ‘This Morning’ and ‘Top of the Pops’, and played with Il Divo on the ‘X-Factor’. The Quartet has performed for royalty on many occasions; HRH Princess Anne, HRH the Duke of Kent, and Princess Caroline of Monaco have all attended performances.

Vao has been invited to participate in Unilever management seminars several times in the UK and Brussels. They even performed at a conference in Spain for all England and Wales Catholic bishops. Sponsors have included HSBC, British Airways, the British Council and Jaguar. The Quartet are also grateful for financial help in the past from the Tillett Trust, the Hattori Foundation, the Musicians Benevolent Fund and Sir Richard Branson.