The LSQ demonstrate their belief that new music is essential to keeping the arts relevant in today’s world through their sustained commitment to its creation and performance. Their aim continues to be to provide it with as wide a platform as possible.


LSQ performances span a wide range of occasions and venues including Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, recitals at established chamber music venues such as Lauderdale House, Wales Millennium Centre and The Warehouse plus TV and radio work with BBC Radio Wales, BBC Wales Today and BBC Radio 5 Live. A further element of the quartet’s work
is through the Live Music Now! scheme, founded by the late Yehudi Menuhin.


The ensemble’s debut album ‘FLUX’, which is to be released in Autumn 2009, features five new commissions by Gabriel Jackson, Ashley John Long, Lucy Pankhurst, Eric Schwartz and James Williamson as well as first recordings of works by Graham Fitkin and Keith Tippett.


As well as commissioning established composers, the LSQ are keen to support the development of emerging composers. This led to the creation of the LSQ New Music Award, which gives young composers at universities and music colleges the opportunity to have their works performed at a high profile London venue. The 2007 winning piece, ‘In Memorium’ by James Williamson was recorded on the LSQ’s album ‘FLUX’ and published by Staunch Music, the quartet’s own publishing company.


The ‘Catching Sunlight’ project was awarded an MBF Ensembles Award in 2008. Initially commissioned by the LSQ for quartet and piano, composer and jazz pianist Dave Stapleton reworked the piece for jazz quartet and saxophone quartet. The Edition Records disc was released to critical acclaim with 4star reviews in publications including Jazzwise magazine and The
Independent on Sunday.


2009 promises to be a busy year for the quartet with performances already confirmed at the Welsh Proms, Deal Festival and the Southbank Centre. In May the group will contribute two pieces to an album of Graham Fitkin’s saxophone works and in October they will begin their tenure as ensemble in residence at Young Composer of Dyfed. Future plans include an album of music by Welsh composers featuring commissions by John Metcalf and Hillary Tann. This project will see the LSQ travel to New York to promote the new music in association with contemporary ensemble, ‘Forecast’.