The Penderecki String Quartet, Jeremy Bell - violin, Jerzy Kaplanek - violin, Christine Vlajk - viola, Paul Pulford - cello, is one of the most celebrated chamber ensembles in the music world. With over a decade's experience performing on the great stages of Europe, the Far East, South America and North America, the Penderecki Quartet has fashioned a reputation for virtuosity and interpretive subtlety among critics and audiences alike. From Carnegie Hall in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California to the prestigious Conservatory of Music in Krakow, Poland, the Penderecki Quartet has achieved a level of excellence rarely paralleled among chamber music ensembles.

The Penderecki Quartet was founded in Poland in 1986 at the urging of the pre-eminent Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. The fruit of their association includes the authoritative interpretation of Penderecki's complete works for String Quartet on CD (United Records, England). To this day the Quartet is a devoted champion of the music of our time, and has commissioned new quartets from Brian Cherney, Linda C. Smith, John Oswald, Randolph Peters, Glenn Buhr, Raymond Luedeke and Michel Tremblay with assistance from the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council.

Their extensive touring schedule is complemented by a wealth of critically acclaimed recordings, each of which has garnered effusive praise from all sides. Collaborations with internationally recognized artists such as Lev Natochenny, James Campbell, Vladimir Feltsman, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and Janina Fialkowska have also added to the prestige of the Penderecki Quartet.

As avid supporters of new music, the Penderecki Quartet has commissioned many works from some of today's most important living composers. Indeed, the great Polish composer Kryztof Penderecki, upon hearing them perform in 1986, urged that they establish a permanent group, and promptly bestowed his name upon the newly formed ensemble. The fruit of their association includes the authoritative interpretation of Penderecki's complete works for string quartet on CD (United Records, England).

An important aspect of the Penderecki Quartet's role in the music community lies in Quartetfest, an internationally recognized festival built around the string quartet, and organized by the members of the Penderecki Quartet. This festival brings together students of all ages and backgrounds with some of the most celebrated chamber ensembles and players, and lasts for a full month in the summer.

Quartet-in-Residence at Waterloo's Wilfred Laurier University for the past seven years, the Penderecki Quartet has also been largely responsible for making that university's string program one of the finest in Canada, and their students among the most proficient in North America.

Critical response to concerts by the Penderecki Quartet have reflected this high level of excellence and dedication, and include exceptional plaudits from some of the most important publications in the classical music world, including the Strad Magazine, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The Penderecki Quartet is an ensemble whose complete dedication to excellence and whose ability to perform at the highest possible level are leading causes of their rise to the top of their field.