The Santiago Quartet, Violin 1 - Rowan Bell, Violin II - Johanna McWeeney, Viola - Cressida Wislocki, 'Cello - Jonathan Hennessey-Brown.

Originally Cuarteto Genesis, the group took the name Santiago Quartet when two of its founding members moved to England after several years with the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra.

Whilst working in Mexico, the musicians discovered a repertoire that is rarely or never performed in the United Kingdom. They collaborated with the renowned Yucatecan guitarist Cecilio Perera. Their interest in exploring this music led to performances with the Grammy Award winning Cuarteto Latinoamericáno, and at the 2008 International Chamber Music Festival in Mexico City's Bellas Artes Theatre.

After personnel changes which led to a new beginning for the group, the Santiago Quartet, along with founding member and cellist Jonathan Hennessey-Brown, reaffirmed their intention both to bring vibrant performances to audiences and play an active role in the education of young musicians. Amongst other engagements, the Quartet workshops with young musicians at the Jewish Free School in West London every year, advising them on their A/S and A Level compositions and recording their pieces. The Quartet has received exceptional feedback from this project.

The Quartet is currently in the developmental stages of recording a second album with Quindecim Records. The main body of this album will be in collaboration with the Argentinian Bandoneon player César Olguin.

Olguin is known not only for his virtuosic, thoughtful musicianship, but his haunting arrangements of Tangos by Piazzolla and other Latin American composers are significant in developing the popularity of this music. Several of the works he has provided for the Santiago Quartet’s album, which he will also record with the group, are just one example of repertoire that no other Quartet in the UK owns or performs.

Another featured work on the forthcoming album, a commission by Will Todd, is also exclusive to the Quartet. Todd’s 2012 work Call of Wisdom premiered at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, subsequently topping the Classic FM Charts. Love Song, the middle movement from his Birthday Quartet, is similarly approachable and attractive. The album will also feature an exclusive instrumental version of a surprise track by a world famous artist which will be arranged and co-produced by Nick Ingman.

A percentage of proceeds will go to the mental health charity Mind, who have agreed to support and endorse the project.