Founded in Copenhagen in 2018, NOVO Quartet is one of the most promising young ensembles in Denmark. Currently based in Vienna and Copenhagen, the quartet consists of violinists Kaya Kato Møller and Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard, violist Daniel Śledziński and cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch.
The quartet was recently awarded 1st Prize and four special prizes in the 77th Concours de Genève. Earlier in 2023 they received both 2nd Prize in the Carl Nielsen Chamber Music Competition and the 1st Prize in the Irene Steels-Wilsing Foundation International String Quartet Competition in Heidelberg. Additional successes include winning the Danish Radio P2 Chamber Music Competition 2020, receiving Léonie Sonning Talent Award 2021, and winning 2nd Prize and the Jury Special Prize at the Trondheim International String Quartet Competition 2021.
NOVO Quartet currently studies at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Vienna through the ECMAster program under Professor Johannes Meissl. Former education as an ensemble includes four years of dedicated work with Professor Tim Frederiksen at The Royal Danish Academy of Music (the prior teacher and mentor of the Danish String Quartet). The quartet has been given further musical inspiration from Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Valentin Erben (Alban Berg Quartet), Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet), Asbjørn Nørgård (Danish String Quartet) and Fredrik Sjölin (Danish String Quartet).
NOVO Quartet enjoys playing concerts all over Denmark and has also performed in countries such as China, USA, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Greenland.
Kaya Kato Møller plays on a violin by Josef Guadagnini from 1800, Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard on a violin by David Tecchler from 1706, and Daniel Śledziński on a viola by Noémie Viaud from 2021, thanks to generous loans from the Augustinus Foundation. Signe Ebstrup Bitsch plays on a modern cello by Wojchiech Topa owned by herself.
Kaya Kato Møller
The Danish-Japanese violinist Kaya Kato Møller (b. 1997) debuted aged 8 with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and has since gone on to play across the world in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Musikverein in Vienna. As the winner of both national and international competitions, she has received some of the most important Danish awards such as the Léonie Sonning Talent Award, Copenhagen Summer Festival Talent Prize and the Jacob Gade Scholarship. Most recent success include 2nd prize and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra Prize at The Danish String Competition 2022, winning the 2022 Stunt Competition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and 2nd prize at Gifu International Music Festival Competition in Japan. Kaya is tutored by Frederik Øland and Peter Herresthal, after preliminary studies with Tim Frederiksen, Serguei Azizian and Alexandre Zapolski at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. She has performed in masterclasses with renowned musicians e.g. Pinchas Zukerman, Nikolaj Znaider, Milan Vitek and Gerhard Schulz. Alongside her work with NOVO Quartet, Kaya enjoys working as a substitute in symphony orchestras such as the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil and the Danish Chamber Orchestra. Although her focus is largely on the work with NOVO, she also enjoys the organizational part of the music industry, and has, among other things, founded the Across Chamber Music Series, which has the vision of bringing together young, Scandinavian musicians and their common desire to play chamber music across national borders.
Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard
Violinist Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard (b. 2000) is a native of Denmark. He is currently studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Tim Frederiksen following prior studies with Alexandre Zapolski. Nedergaard won Second Prize in the Stockholm International Violin Competition and also received a special prize for best interpretation of a Swedish piece. In addition, he took First Prize in the Daleki Akordi Competition in Croatia. In 2022 Nikolai received The Jacob Gade Scholarship. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Milan Vitek and Sergey Kravchenko.
Daniel Sledzinski
Violist Daniel Sledzinski (b. 1996) is a native of Poland. He is a graduate of Royal Danish Academy of Music under supervision of Tim Frederiksen and Asbjørn Nørgaard. Daniel is a former employee of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Royal Danish Orchestra. Furthermore he is freelancing in Aalborg Symphony Orchestra,the Faroe Islands Symphony and many others. Daniel has participated in masterclasses with great musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Kim Kashkashian, Lars Anders Tomter, Laurence Power, Jennifer Stumm, Peter Herrestal, and Katarzyna Budnik.
Signe Ebstrup Bitsch
Cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch (b. 1997) is a native of Denmark. Signe is currently studying her artist diploma under the tutelage of Andreas Brantelid at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. She has previously studied under Toke Møldrup, Richard Krug and for one year at the Manhattan School of Music in New York under David Geber. Signe has been an active part of the Danish musical environment from a young age. Her distinctions include among others receiving the Hamlet Talent Prize, the Jacob Gade Talent Prize and winning the STUNT Competition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.