Spīķeri String Quartet is a team of musicians who play together in a friendly and creative manner since 2011. The quartet unites the principal violin of the Sinfonietta Rīga orchestra Marta Spārniņa, the assistant principal violin Antti Kortelainen, the viola section member Ineta Abakuka and the principal cello of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra Ēriks Kiršfelds. The quartet’s name is derived from the quartet’s home, the Spīķeri Concert Hall in Riga. To English ears, the hall’s name, as pronounced in Latvian, resembles the word speaker, indicating that the quartet’s members are the speakers through which the music talks.

The repertoire of the quartet covers a wide range, from the works of Vienna classics to the most contemporary scores. A special place in its repertoire is reserved for popularising string quartets by Latvian composers. The quartet is also a member of the Amber Coast Artists association (www.ambercoastartists.lv).

Spīķeri String Quartet gladly welcomes guest musicians for joint performances as well as extra-musical activities. The members of Spīķeri String Quartet are bound together not only by strings; they also share a taste for humour, joy of living and… cooking.