The Rothko String Quartet, consisting of Marc Kopitzki (viola), Jakob Nierenz (cello), Joosten Ellée (violin) and Skaistė Dikšaitytė (violin), was founded in 2017 in Lüneburg. A mission close to the four musicians’ hearts is to make the music of marginalised composers heard and to bring less-known pieces of classical music history to light, in order to actively expand the canon of string quartet music.

The collaborative spirit of the quartet not only influences the cooperation with contemporary composers and artists of different disciplines, but also the attitude towards one another when rehearsing. Additionally to performing newly composed music, the quartet is interested in the dissolution of boundaries between the (musical) genres and works together with producers, composers, improvisers and visual artists.

In partnership with PODIUM Esslingen, the Rothko String Quartet arranges innovative concert programmes, which are performed at renowned festivals of classical music. The ensemble can regularly be experienced at festivals such as the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, the Düsseldorf Festival! or the PODIUM Festival Esslingen. In 2025, a first USA tour followed, as well as other festival debuts. In the 2026/27 season, the quartet will be a guest at the Festival Liedstadt in the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and the Konzerthaus Berlin, amongst others. Additionally, one can look forward to another USA tour and the release of the album »Music for Transitions«.