Raphael, Sara, Maria and Annabel make up the Resol String Quartet and when lockdown began in Scotland the quartet were apart. Raphael was in Glasgow, Sara was too (but in quarantine due to coronavirus), Annabel was in Brighton and Maria was in Catalonia. 

Their submission to the After the Pandemic Summer School explored how they could reunite over the summer months, and as they did so, how they could express themselves by playing music responding to the time in which we were all going through. 

In particular this manifested itself in two different manners. 

Firstly, they proposed to perform to others who were in isolation (namely those who were still shielding throughout June 2020) and as each of the quartet returned to performing in Glasgow, those groups would get larger and larger to reflect the easing of restrictions. 

Secondly, they proposed to deconstruct classical music. This included finding new audiences to play to, break down the wall between the musician and the audience, and, most importantly for Resol String Quartet, perform pieces of music which were produced by BAME artists and composers. That final point ties in with the conversation around the culture of change currently taking place and Resol clearly pointed out that the majority of classical music performed is from white male composers who have long since passed away. 

Resol String Quartet proposed Reuniting to challenge society to see them, their music and their art differently. 

Raphael is seen here performing Nina Simone’s ‘Strange Fruit’ to the residents of a care home in Glasgow during summer 2020.