Maxwell Quartet

The Maxell Quartet is comprised of four close friends -- Colbin Scobin, violin; George Smith, violin; Elliott Perks, viola; and Duncan Strachan, cello --  who grew up playing folk and classical music together in youth orchestras and music schools across Scotland. The group officially formed in 2010 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where its founding members met as postgraduate students. 

Having won numerous prizes in international chamber music competitions, and after being hailed as “brilliantly fresh, unexpected and exhilarating”  in the press, the Maxwell Quartet is now firmly regarded as one of Britain's finest young string quartets.  With a strong connection to their folk music heritage and a commitment to bringing together wide-ranging projects and programs, the group seeks to expand the string quartet repertoire. 

The quartet performs regularly across the UK and abroad, at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Queen’s Hall Edinburgh, and Perth Concert Hall. The quartet has toured widely across Europe, with performances in France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal. They currently hold the position of Associate Artist at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and at Music at Paxton Festival in the Scottish Borders.

Passionate about collaborating with musicians and artists from other fields, the quartet has worked with a global roster of artists and institutions including theatre company Cryptic, installation artists Wintour’s Leap, the Royal Ballet School, soul duo Lunir, folk duo Chris Stout & Catriona MacKay, cinematographer Herman Kolgen, and many more.