Leading quartet loses viola over family illness

The award-winning Pavel Haas Quartet has been forced to make a personnel change.

Statement by their agency, Intermusica:

Due to a serious illness in his immediate family, Pavel Nikl, the viola player and founding member of the Pavel Haas Quartet, has very sadly had to take the difficult decision to leave the quartet. Radim Sedmidubský, up until now a member of the Škampa Quartet and a longstanding friend of the ensemble, has joined the Pavel Haas Quartet to replace him with immediate effect.
Czech viola player Radim Sedmidubský studied at the Prague Academy of Music with Milan Škampa, a former member of the legendary Smetana Quartet. In 1989 he co-founded the Škampa Quartet of which he has been a member for more than twenty years. He has also performed with ensembles such as the Keller, Endellion and Borodin Quartets, held chamber music classes all over the world and in 2001 was appointed visiting professor of chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Pavel Nikl:“ I am sorry that difficult personal circumstances have forced me to leave the Pavel Haas Quartet. Personally, I am glad that in these unanticipated circumstances the brilliant violist Radim Sedmidubský has agreed to join the quartet. Not only is he a great player and lasting friend but also, having studied like myself with Prof. Milan Škampa, he shares our philosophy and musical values.“