Formed by violinists
James Dickenson and Tamaki Higashi, violist
Carmen Flores, and cellist Nick Stringfellow, the
Villiers Quartet came together in 2011, and took its name from Villiers Street in London, one of the most vibrant musical neighborhoods in the city. The group has developed a repertoire of a strong British character, concentrating on the chamber music of
Edward Elgar, Frederick Delius, Peter Racine Fricker, Robert Still, David Matthews, and William Sterndale Bennett. Based in the U.K., the
Villiers Quartet participates in music festivals, concerts, and master classes given at universities and high schools around the country. The group has served as the quartet-in-residence at the University of Oxford and Nottingham High School since 2017. Through its New Works Competition, the
Villiers Quartet promotes contemporary music performances online, and encourages new compositions for string quartet. The group has been heard in programs on BBC One and BBC Radio 3, and it has recorded for Naxos and Somm.