Viride Quartet’s Artistic Journey through the Merita Project
Stories | June 23, 2025
In a touching episode of the Merita Project podcast, the Viride Quartet – Jurre (cello), Sedna (viola), Nadia (violin), and Salome (violin) – shared their experience, remembering the enchantment of music, collaboration, and artistic change. The Merita Project, supported collectively by the European Union, unites musicians, mentors, Historical sites, and concert organizers to reimagine classical performance in Europe.
From High School Friends to a United Quartet
The story of the Viride Quartet began nearly seven years ago when they were attending a high school that was affiliated with the Conservatory of The Hague. An appreciation of string quartet music, which had started as something elementary, became a permanent collaboration. Their relationship with one another, developed over years of sharing life together while growing up, brings a solidity and togetherness to their group that is distinctive and forceful within chamber music.
Giving Music a Broader Mission
Through the Merita Project, the quartet discovered new ways to give their music purpose beyond performance. The experience allowed them to explore innovative approaches to audience engagement, expand their understanding of artistic identity, and step into unfamiliar but enriching creative territories.
Their show, “Lost and Found,” tells a universal story of loss and acceptance. Structured in four phases which reflect the emotional trajectory of losing a person or an object, the performance interweaves music and words into a very moving tale. The text, exquisitely written by Salome’s younger sister, gives the piece a personal, poetic edge.
A Residency Like No Other
The Quartet noted that Merita’s residency provided a valuable opportunity to think, create, and evolve. Unlike typical masterclasses set on technicalities alone, this residency was set on artistic discovery, expression, and innovation. The serene landscape setting gave the musicians enough space for in-depth discussions and new ideas, developing their inner dynamics and vision.
Learning Through Mentorship and Collaboration
Collaborating with diverse instructors, the Viride Quartet explored aspects of performance beyond the stage: how to convey their visions, connect with their audiences, and translate a concept into a cohesive concert experience. From text presentation and staging to group decision-making, they were encouraged to keep their minds open and constantly experimental – a sensitivity that will benefit them in the fullness of their careers.
Embracing Emotions and Connection
Maybe the most touching hope the artists expressed was that the listener would be able to see and relate to the feelings constructed into the work – that perhaps the show might be able to make people feel a little less isolated. Their music and words attempt to entertain, as much as to form an emotional community.
Looking to the Future
The members of the Viride Quartet hope to keep going together, growing as artists and growing even more on the foundations of the deep trust and communication that bind them. As they carry the lessons of Merita into the future, they would like to continue to play, create, and tell not just as musicians, but as keepers of human stories.
As the podcast episode draws to a close, the message is clear: where music, friendship, and passion meet, something magical happens. The Merita Project has been an uplifting chapter in the quartet’s continuing story. A story of discovery, emotion, and enrichment.
“I hope the audience can recognize some of the emotions we try to express… and feel that they’re not alone.” – Vierde Quartet.
The Merita Project podcast is supported by the European Union and aims to revitalize Europe’s classical music heritage through innovation, collaboration, and cultural storytelling.
