About us – NOVO Quartet

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 the 2nd Prize and the Jury Special Prize at the Trondheim International String Quartet Competition 2021. Additional successes include winning the Danish Radio P2 Chamber Music Competition 2020 and receiving Léonie Sonning Talent Award 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, 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

Danish 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 the Musikverein in Vienna.

A winner of national and international competitions, she has received some of the most important Danish prizes such as the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize and the Jacob Gade Scholarship. 

Following preliminary studies with Alexandre Zapolski, Kaya entered the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Alongside lessons with Tim Frederiksen and Serguei Azizian she has performed for violinists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Nikolaj Znaider, and Gerhard Schulz.

Kaya Møller plays on a J. Guadagnini violin on loan from the Augustinus foundation and currently is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

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. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Milan Vitek and Sergey Kravchenko. Nikolai plays a Chanot violin on loan from Harby Fonden.

Daniel Sledzinski

Violist Daniel Sledzinski (b. 1996) is a native of Poland. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a student of Tim Frederiksen. Currently Daniel is working in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore he is freelancing in the Royal Danish Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, and the Faroe Islands Symphony. Daniel has participated in masterclasses with great musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Laurence Power, Peter Herrestal, and Katarzyna Budnik.

Signe Ebstrup Bitsch

Cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch (b. 1997) is a native of Denmark. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a student of Toke Møldrup, following prior studies with Morten Zeuthen and Jacob Shaw. She recently took up a yearlong residence in New York to work with David Geber at the Manhattan School of Music. Signe was a finalist and recipient of a special prize at the Svirel International Competition in Slovenia. In Denmark, she took the gold medal and the Talent Prize at the Berlingske Klassiske Musikkonkurrence. In addition, she received Jacob Gade’s three-year Talent Prize. Recently Signe has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists Paul Watkins and Torleif Thedéen.