Jonathan Masaki Schwarz, violin
Amelie Cosima Wallner, violin
Mayu Konoe, viola
Lukas Minoru Schwarz, cello
The String Quartet, founded in Berlin in 2019, can hardly be described more aptly than in the review published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in January 2022.
The ensemble is framed by brothers Jonathan and Lukas Schwarz on first violin and cello, while the middle voices are formed by Amelie Wallner on second violin and Mayu Konoe on viola. Leonkoro, in Esperanto: Lionheart, alludes not coincidentally to Astrid Lindgren’s children’s book about two brothers, a book that juxtaposes the grave reality of death with a large and heartfelt yearning for comfort and solace – a sentiment that string quartet repertoire addresses in several instances.
In 2022, the Leonkoro Quartet garnered a series of prestigious accolades, solidifying their place among the most celebrated ensembles of their generation. In March, they were bestowed with the highly prestigious Jürgen Ponto Foundation Music Prize, a biennial award recognizing outstanding String Quartets. Subsequently, the quartet triumphed at the International String Quartet Competition held at London’s Wigmore Hall, earning 1st prize and a collection of 9 special awards, including interpretations, residencies, and concert prizes.
Continuing their triumphant journey, the quartet seized the top honours – 1st prize – at the Concours International de Quatuor à Bordeaux in May. Their exceptional performances not only impressed the esteemed jury but also captivated the audience, resulting in the quartet receiving both the Audience Prize and the Young Audience Prize. Shortly thereafter, they were invited to join the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists program, where they will participate from 2022 to 2024.
November 2022 witnessed yet another remarkable achievement for the quartet when they were bestowed with the MERITO String Quartet Award. Unlike conventional competitions, this award recognizes selected quartets over a year, as they are observed by a panel of renowned String Quartet musicians. The Leonkoro Quartet’s exceptional musicianship and talent were duly acknowledged, and they will be supported by the MERITO String Instrument Trust for four years including a composition commission.
The series of accolades continues this Spring: In March 2024, the Leonkoro Quartet received the Young Talent Award of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the starting point for a long-standing relationship. A week after followed the announcement as Borletti-Buitoni Trust award winners, a great honor and a wonderful support for the quartet and its work.
Alongside their academic pursuits in chamber music under the tutelage of Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet) at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, the quartet has been studying with Günter Pichler (Primarius Alban Berg Quartet) at the Chamber Music Institute of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía Madrid since 2020. Notable mentors of the ensemble include Eckart Runge and Gregor Sigl (Artemis Quartet), as well as pianist Alfred Brendel, with whom the Leonkoro Quartet maintains a regular collaboration.
In Fall 2023, Mirare released the ensemble’s first album featuring Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet and Robert Schumann’s String Quartet Op. 41 No. 3, which was crowned with the Choc de Classica l’année 2023 just a few weeks later.
In Spring 2024 the Leonkoro Quartet and the prestigious record label Alpha Classics will launch a long-term partnership.
The four musicians already celebrated many triumphant debuts in major international concert series and festivals last season. More will follow this season, including at the Salzburg Festival, the Philharmonie Luxembourg, the Liederhalle Stuttgart, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Bozar Brussels and the KonzerthausDortmund. In addition, the quartet will tour North America for the first time with concerts in New York City, NY, Boston, MA, Montreal, QC, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA, just to name a few.
The Leonkoro Quartet is a Pirastro Artist and Henle App Ambassador.
Jonathan Schwarz plays on a fine JB Guadagnini on generous loan through the Beare’s International Violin Society.
Amelie Wallner plays a Vicenzo Postiglione violin, generously provided by a private donor.
Mayu Konoe plays a viola by Lorenzo Storioni, kindly provided by a private sponsor.
Lukas Schwarz plays a cello by Carlo Tononi, Venice (c. 1720) loaned by the Beare’s International Violin Society.
