Seen as the most promising young string quartet in the Netherlands, the Animato Quartet is known for its passionate, spontaneous playing and powerful on-stage presence. Founded in 2013, their programs combine both classical pieces drawn from the string quartet repertoire and contemporary compositions.

“Four top players with a vibrant energy, they captivate you from the first note! …..This quartet is the great promise of the Dutch string quartets”. - Dutch Classical Talent Award

In January 2025 the Animato Quartet won the first prize at the international Irene Steels-Wilsing Foundation Competition and got an invitation to return to the Heidelberger Frühling festival 2026.
In 2023 they collaborated with violist Nils Mönkemeyer in Kammermusikpreis Gut Hasselburg in Germany, where they received the 1st prize and the Audience prize.
In 2022 at the 9th International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition in Weimar, the quartet received the Special Prize for an exceptionally talented ensemble. In September 2021, at Trondheim’s famed International Chamber Music Competition, the Animato Quartet won both third prize and a Special Jury Prize.
The Quartet was invited to participate in the prominent Verbier Festival Academy 2022 and was selected as one of only ten quartets to compete in the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition (Canada) in 2022.

In 2023 the Kersjes Prize, the most important state prize for classical chamber music talent, was given to these four musicians. From the jury report: “Four players, each maintaining and using their individual expression, have developed a multi-layered and intense playing as a quartet with a wide palette of colours”. “Vierspelers, die elk hun individuele expressie behouden en gebruiken, hebben een gelaagd en intens spel ontwikkeld als een kwartet met een breed kleurenpalet”.

Within the Netherlands Animato has performed at all major venues. Outside of the Netherlands they have given concerts in venues such as the Philharmonie in Paris, the Luxemburg Philharmonie and in the chamber music series of the Gewandhaus in Leipzig.
The quartet has also performed at numerous international festivals in the Netherlands such as the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival, the Stift Music festival and the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam. Outside of the Netherlands they have performed at festivals in Portugal, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and France.

Until 2022, the Animato was ‘artist in residence’ of the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA).
Their development both as musicians and as a quartet has also greatly benefited from lessons and mentorship of some of the most recognised players in their disciplines, such as Eberhard Feltz, Marc Danel, Hatto Beyerle, Anner Bylsma, Jan-Willem de Vriend, Alfred Brendel, Gerhard Schultz and Vera Beths.