Artists at the Banff International String Quartet Competition this August will be competing for 10-day string quartet residency in SVG in March 2026
We’re excited to announce an international artist residency to be based in Bequia next March. The residency is being offered in partnership with the DC Anderson Family Foundation and The Banff International String Quartet Competition, in cooperation with the Grenadines Initiative.
The Banff International String Quartet Competition is a triennial event held at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1983, it has grown into one of the world’s leading chamber music competitions, bringing together musicians from around the world. This year the competing quartets are from Korea, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, and the United States.
The goal of the competition is to foster career development through touring, residencies, coaching, collaborations, and recordings, as well as supporting opportunities for youth with mentoring programs. Through residencies and collaborations, the competition also seeks to grow audiences, and to bring chamber music and chamber musicians to new audiences.
That last part—sharing the music in new ways—is why we feel this project is such a great match for the communities of SVG. During the residency the musicians will be doing performances and outreach on St Vincent, Bequia, and Canouan. They will also meet with local musicians, and engage in an exchange of musical ideas. The dates of the residency are March 2-13, 2026.
While there will be one ticketed event during their stay, the majority of the performances will be open to all. There will also be visits to local schools across the islands where young people will be able to experience the instruments up close, and to interact with the players. We’ll be sure to distribute updates and details as they become available.
grenadinesinitiative.ca 