MERITA ANNOUNCES THE ARTISTIC COMMITTEE OF MERITACUBED
News | February 6, 2026
MERITA platform presents the Artistic Committee of MERITAcubed, the second project phase of the European platform which, until 2029, will support 56 ensembles (string quartets and piano trios) in their artistic and professional development.
Composed of artists with internationally recognized profiles, the Committee plays a central role in ensuring the artistic quality of the project and in shaping its overall vision. Its contribution goes beyond selection: the Committee members closely follow the ensembles’ journeys, offering artistic guidance, dialogue, and evaluation throughout the different phases of MERITAcubed.
Throughout the project, the Committee is involved in key artistic decisions, from direct dialogue with the selected ensembles to the assessment of projects submitted on the platform, as well as participation in meetings and exchanges with the professional sector. This ongoing work ensures coherence, depth, and a high standard of quality across the entire programme.
The members of the MERITAcubed Artistic Committee are (in alphabetical order):
Jonathan Aner, Simone Gramaglia, Viviane Hagner, Hila Karni, Bjørg Lewis, Alexander Pavlovsky
JONATHAN ANER
Jonathan Aner, described as “a chamber musician par excellence” (Frankfurter Rundschau), is a member of the Oberon Trio and an active chamber musician performing with leading international artists. A 2024 Opus Klassik Award recipient, he has won prizes at major international chamber music competitions in Europe and Australia. He regularly appears in renowned concert halls such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, and Tonhalle Zürich, and at major international festivals. Since 2010, he has been Professor of Chamber Music at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, where he also serves as Artistic Director of the Centre for Chamber Music.
SIMONE GRAMAGLIA
Simone Gramaglia is one of the leading violists of his generation, combining an international performing career with teaching, artistic direction, and a deep commitment to chamber music. A founding member of the Quartetto di Cremona, he performs worldwide in major halls and festivals and has recorded extensively for labels including Decca, Audite, Brilliant, and Da Vinci, earning major awards and nominations. He is Professor of Chamber Music at the Accademia Walter Stauffer. In 2025, he celebrated 25 years with the Quartetto di Cremona with a world tour across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
https://www.simonegramaglia.it/
VIVIANE HAGNER
Munich-born violinist Viviane Hagner is internationally acclaimed for her musical depth and passionate artistry, performing with leading orchestras such as the Berlin and New York Philharmonics, Boston and Chicago Symphonies, and under conductors including Barenboim, Ashkenazy, and Salonen. A dedicated chamber musician and advocate for contemporary and rediscovered repertoire, she is the dedicatee of Unsuk Chin’s Violin Concerto. Her discography spans major labels including Hyperion, BIS, Analekta, Capriccio, MDG. Hagner is Professor at the Mannheim University of Music and co-founder and Artistic Director of Krzyżowa-Music.
HILA KARNI
Chamber music has been at the heart of Hila Karni’s musical journey since childhood. Born in Tel Aviv, she quickly became a standout cellist, performing internationally from the age of twelve. A member of acclaimed ensembles like Trio Mondrian and Trio Lirico, Hila has graced major venues including Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, and the Kölner Philharmonie. She is the principal cellist of the Hamburger Camerata. Her mentors include Bernard Greenhouse, and David Geringas, Haim Taub and the Alban Berg Quartet. Hila is celebrated for her emotional depth, sensitivity, and vibrant ensemble dialogue. Beyond classical stages, she collaborates with artists like Max Richter and numerous pop, Rock and Jazz artists.
BJØRG LEWIS
Bjørg Lewis is one of Norway’s most acclaimed cellists, performing as soloist with orchestras across Europe and the Baltics, including the Oslo Philharmonic under Mariss Jansons, and collaborating with leading artists such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Steven Isserlis, and Truls Mørk. She is a founding member of the Vertavo String Quartet, winner of the Grieg Prize, with which she has toured internationally for over four decades. A committed educator and curator, she has been Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music since 2018 and founded several festivals, including Midsummer Music in the UK. She plays a 1748 Gennaro Gagliano cello, on loan from the Dextra Musica Foundation.
ALEXANDER PAVLOVSKY
Alexander Pavlovsky is the founder and first violinist of the internationally renowned Jerusalem Quartet, with whom he performs regularly in the world’s leading concert halls and festivals across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. A graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and a follower of the Oistrakh school, he has collaborated with many of today’s foremost musicians and recorded extensively, earning multiple BBC Music Magazine and Diapason d’Or Awards. Since 2022 he has been Professor of String Chamber Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz and has served since 2008 as Artistic Director of the Zeist Music Days in the Netherlands. He plays a 1696 Antonio Stradivari violin.
https://pavlovsky.me/