"An intense, compact listening experience from a young quartet with an enviable reputation for elegance, precision and energy." - Limelight
Praised for their warm sound and commanding stage presence, the Esmé Quartet has quickly established itself as one of the most captivating chamber ensembles of its generation. Formed in 2016 in Cologne, Germany, by four Korean musicians and lifelong friends, the quartet is driven by a deep artistic connection and a shared passion for music and the arts. In the 2025–26 season, the Esmé Quartet will be based in San Francisco as ensemble-in-residence with San Francisco Performances, where they will present a complete Schubert quartet cycle in collaboration with noted musicologist and host Robert Greenberg. Concurrently, the quartet members will serve as visiting artists and faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The season also features the quartet’s highly anticipated New York debut at The Frick Collection, continued tours across North America and Europe, and will culminate in a special 10th anniversary celebration concert at the Seoul Arts Center in June 2026. Their name, Esmé, derives from the Old French word for “beloved”. Visit Esmé Quartet.