MSM

QUARTET

The Maastricht Society of Music (MSM) was founded in 2016 by violinist Nikita Akulov to connect music students with cultural institutions and private clients in the Netherlands. Initially focused on performance opportunities, the ensemble evolved into a dedicated string quartet, officially forming the MSM String Quartet in 2018.

All members are alumni of Conservatorium Maastricht, giving the group a strong artistic identity rooted in the city’s musical tradition. The quartet has performed over 200 concerts across Europe. In 2019, they launched the Maastricht Classical Chamber Music Series, supported by a grant from the Elisabeth Strouven Fonds. MSM won the Grand Prix du Public at the Maastricht Awards of Music (2022) and the First Great Award at the Vienna International Competition (2024), leading to their upcoming debut album’s international release with Orpheus Label.

The quartet has received guidance from renowned musicians of world-class ensembles, including the Alban Berg Quartet, Quatuor Ysaÿe, Jerusalem Quartet, Quatuor Danel, Hagen Quartet, Cuarteto Casals, Quartetto di Cremona, Quatuor Modigliani, and Dudok Quartet, among others. Since 2024, they have been affiliated with the Netherlands String Quartet Academy (NSKA) and are members of the social-musical platform Musethica.