Breathing New Life into Classical Music: The Kleio String Quartet and the Merita Project

Stories | June 13, 2025

Introduction: Where Music Meets Meaning

Welcome to the world of the Merita Project where chamber music, cultural heritage, and young talent are united to create new artistic possibilities throughout Europe. Among the ensembles taking up this challenge is the Kleio String Quartet, a new group of musicians dedicated not only to musical excellence but also to reimagining the role of performance in society.

Formed in 2019, the Kleio Quartet has been formed by residencies, collaborations, and experiments connecting music to breath, audience, and community. For them, “there is no wall in classical music – it’s all about human connection.”

A Quartet Built on Breath

The Kleio String Quartet’s latest performance project centers around an unusual yet powerful idea: breath as a tool for musical and human connection. Rather than relying solely on sight or gesture, the ensemble explores how synchronized breathing can shape the rhythm, emotion, and dynamic of a performance.

“We invite a member of the audience to come forward and breathe with us – as the fifth member.”

This participatory approach brings audiences closer to the heart of the music. In performances of works such as the slow movement of Beethoven’s Op. 18 No. 3, audience members are invited to join the ensemble in finding a “united breath,” turning each concert into a collaborative experience.

Collaboration Beyond Sight: Learning from the Visio Foundation

A pivotal moment in the quartet’s journey came through their collaboration with the Visio Foundation, which supports blind and partially sighted individuals. During a residency, Kleio worked with participants who guided the music through their breath and physical movement.

“We played based on their breath. It helped us connect not just with them, but more deeply with each other.”

Removing visual cues and working instead on subconscious and sensory connection led the quartet to discover ways of listening and responding and growing-musically and personally.

Coming from no group identity and breaking boundaries

The members of the group did not find the need to define a group identity. Their mentor, Ivar pushed them to do something more profound.

Through mentorship with Mark Withers, guidance from Emma Bonici, and close collaboration with other quartets, Kleio explored the emotional layers of quartet playing, discovering that vulnerability and authenticity are just as essential as technique. There’s nowhere to hide in a quartet. One has to bring their whole self.

Sustainability, Community, and Modern Relevance

Aside from the musical and emotional aspects of the quartet, they were also involved in several environmental workshops. From green traveling to QR programs instead of a printed program, they began regarding concerts as not just performances, but as events that showed social responsibility.

They are not just rehearsing music anymore. They are thinking about the entire concert experience – and its impact on the world. And this holistic view bridges the tradition of classical music with the urgency of contemporary life, creating a format that is both relevant and responsible.

A Vision for the Future: Global

With this experience behind them, the Kleio Quartet looks ahead with renewed purpose. They hope to tour the world – from Europe to Asia, America to Australia – sharing music not as something to be admired from afar, but as something to be felt together. They want people to walk away feeling connected. Music is for everyone. It’s human.