The Engegard Quartet was formed in 2006 at Lofoten and has become one of Norway's most sought after string quartets. "Their bold, fresh interpretations of the classical repertoire combined with a deep attachment to their Scandinavian roots has attracted international acclaim, and inspired some innovative partnerships and programming". The quartet’s debut CD was praised as ‘breath-taking’ in The Strad, while their second release won Pizzicato magazine’s ‘Supersonic Award’. Their recent CD of works by Grieg, Sibelius and Olav Anton Thommessen was praised by Music Web International as "what Grieg lovers have been waiting for’". They are in high demand both in Norway and abroad, concerts ahead of Clitheroe include Saltzberg, Conway Hall, London; Scotland, Oslo, and Morpeth.
Arvid Engegard was born in Bodo, northern Norway. At age eleven, he led his first string quartet in concerts throughout Norway and at fourteen won a Norwegian television competition which led to concert tours of America. He recorded the complete Divertimentos by Mozart as well as the complete Piano Concertos by Mozart with Andras Schiff. By 1991, he was leader of the Orlando String Quartet, based in The Netherlands, which played throughout Europe. Since 1999, Arvid has developed a considerable parallel career as conductor. He has worked with the BBC Concert Orchestra and many others. He is also in much demand as a violin soloist, playing recently with the Stavanger Sympony, Nordkoping Symphony and Camerata Bern. However in the last ten years, his main activity has been the Engegard Quartet.
Alex Robson was born in England but moved to Norway when only three years old. He studied the violin at the Institute for Music in Trondheim and the Royal College of Music in London under Levon Chilingirian. Alex leads the Kistiansund Festival Quartet and for the last 25 years he has been both Artistic Director and Leader of the Tronheim Soloists and a regular member of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. Alex plays a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin from 1858.
Juliet Jopling studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Prussia Cove, Trinity College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music. During this time she was supported by many grants, including the Countess of Munster Trust and the Ian Fleming Memorial Award. She has been Guest Principal Viola with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and the Oslo Philharmonic as well as soloist with the Philharmonic, the Norwegian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and many others. She has worked with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the London Mozart players, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Britten Symphonia. She has broadcast on BBC Radio Three and amongst her radio work, played the solo role live in Walton's Viola Concerto for Classic FM. Juliet plays a Giuseppe Guadagnini viola from 1770.
Jan Clens Carlsen was born in Austria in 1982, studying cello at the Barratt-Due Music Institute, the Univeritat Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Folwang-Hochschule in Essen. He has played at many music festivals as soloist, both in Norway and other countries. He joined the Engegard quartet in 2013. He plays a Giacomo Zanoli cello made in 1737.