The Airis Quartet and the Merita Project: How Innovation and Audience Interaction Renew Classical Music

Stories | June 3, 2025

The Airis Quartet is a young quartet of musicians who are pushing the boundaries of classical music, blending traditional form and contemporary expression. They are part of the Merita Project, an effort to revive the tradition of classical music performance across Europe. The project is co-financed by the European Union and brings together musicians, tutors, historical concert venues, and concert producers in creating new, innovative experiences for the audience both online and offline.

Founded in 2008 at the Kraków Academy of Music, the Airis Quartet was formed by a friendship of four individuals who were eager to do something related to contemporary music. They are Aleksandra Czajor-Kowalska, Grażyna Zubik, Malwina Tkaczyk and Mateusz Mańka. Their journey has taken them from a love of modern compositions to their current endeavor to create an interactive and innovative classical music experience through the Merita Project.

The Merita Project: Fostering Interaction and Creativity Research

One of the significant goals of the Merita Project is to tear down the barriers between the audience and the performers so that they can engage with the music on a deeper level. In talking with the members of the Airis Quartet, they were keen to get used to new experiences and challenges which will exceed what is ‘normal’ in classical music concerts.

The Airis Quartet is excited at the challenge of the Merita Project in combining classical and modern music in a new way. Classical music, according to the musicians, is such a highly emotional activity, but there is also a desire to bring contemporary music to a wider audience in an understandable and enjoyable manner. Most people fear modern pieces, and the quartet wants to transform it, to get people to embrace contemporary music with the same passion as they would accord traditional music by the likes of Beethoven.

Engaging Audiences: A New Approach to Concerts

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the Merita Project is its focus on engaging the audience. The Airis Quartet is eager to break away from the typical concert format, in which the audience merely receives the performance. By having more space for interaction, the quartet aims to create a more intimate relationship between the listeners and players.

Members of the audience, for example, will be able to select their own seating arrangements, experiencing the performance from various viewpoints – either viewing the musicians from the typical front-on perspective or face-to-face within a more intimate environment. This way, the audience are not only able to hear the music, but also watch the musicians interact with each other, for a fuller experience.

A Future of Open Expression and Musical Discovery

Futurewise, the Airis Quartet has high aspirations. They would like to continue growing and breaking boundaries in interactive musical performances, while continually pursuing their passion for contemporary music. They would like to go on performing in a way that is always fresh, authentic, and emotionally expressive, and never to lose the thrill and excitement of performing music that they love.

With the Merita Project, the Airis Quartet is looking to facilitate a new generation of music listeners open to accepting new work in a beautiful, intimate fashion. The quartet believes that new music must be made equally natural and accessible as classical compositions, and their efforts to break down the barriers between musicians and audiences will bring that vision to life.

Merita Project and Airis Quartet are changing the way classical music is being listened to. With new, interactive forms, and by involving themselves deeply with their publics, they are introducing novelty, difference, and excitement to classical music. Through their work, they want to make others perceive the beauty of new music and become open to rich musical experience.