“The men of the Amstel have no fear,” cites the Dutch press. Indeed, like its namesake river, the Amstel Quartet is always on the move, constantly expanding the boundaries of repertoire for saxophone quartet.  Its balanced aesthetic, honoring the traditions of chamber music but ready to meet creative opportunities found in new music, provides for riveting performances, filled with high energy, emotion and infectious dynamism.

Since its inception nine years ago, the Amstel Quartet has successfully navigated the currents of the international chamber music world. Its versatility and talent have earned the ensemble numerous competition prizes, most recently at the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition where the group won both a Management Award and the Audience Prize. Prior wins include top prizes at the International Chamber Music Competition in Illzach, France (2005), the Netherland’s Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition (2005) and Chamber Music in Yellow Springs Competition in the United States (2004).

The repertoire of the Amstel Quartet is original and inventive. From the mystery of Bach’s Second Cello Suite in D to Michael Nyman’s theme for the film The Piano, the four saxophones unleash a new energy and gain fans with each performance. Composers, too, such as György Ligeti, Philip Glass, Michael Nyman and Arvo Pärt, have nothing but praise for the glorious and witty adaptations and arrangements written by members of the Quartet. Further fueled by a passion for exploration beyond its own art form, the Amstel Quartet often collaborates with artists from other disciplines such as dance, musical theatre, mime and cinema.

The Amstel Quartet has been heard in venues around the world including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Vredenburg in the Utrecht, Sogukado Hall in Tokyo, Japan, the Stadtkirche in Darmstadt, Germany and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York and toured Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Upcoming seasons include U.S. tours, concerts in Panama, Russia, Germany and Lithuania in addition to its native Netherlands.