As the first ensemble ever to receive Denmark’s most prestigious classical music honour – the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025 – the Danish String Quartet has entered a new chapter. This recognition not only celebrates the artistic mastery but also the role they have come to play in inspiring the next generation of chamber musicians. Scan Magazine talks to violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen about the prize, the road ahead and their educational project, DSQ Academy.

Catching up with Scan Magazine during his lunch break at DSQ Academy’s yearly five-day music camp, violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen is still processing the recent honour bestowed on the ensemble. “We couldn’t believe it. This is a prize we’ve all grown up with; we’ve seen the names of all our heroes – great conductors, soloists, composers – on that list,” recalls Sørensen. “When we were told we’d be receiving it, it just felt unreal. It’s still a bit unreal.”

 

Video: The Danish String Quartet
 

For the four musicians – Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, Frederik Øland, Asbjørn Nørgaard, and Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin – being awarded the Sonning Music Prize is more than a personal milestone. “This isn’t just recognition of our group,” Sørensen explains, “it’s recognition of the genre. We’re part of a long Danish chamber music tradition, and hopefully this can inspire the younger groups coming up. That would be fantastic.”

Formed when the four were in their teens, the quartet is recognised as one of the world’s best, with reviewers in awe of their ability to turn even the most treasured classical pieces into unique experiences for the audience.

Winners of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025 (left to right): violinist Frederik Øland, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard, violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin. | The Danish String Quartet: honoured with the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025

Winners of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025 (left to right): violinist Frederik Øland, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard, violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin.

The DSQ Academy

On top of their own creative work, the Danish String Quartet works actively to help and inspire the next generation of chamber musicians. The DSQ Academy is one of the cornerstones in this work, drawing students from across the globe to the scenic surroundings of Lundsgaard Gods in Kerteminde, Denmark.

At the Academy, young musicians receive not only technical training but also get to experience the social and creative space that defines the quartet’s own approach to music-making. “What we enjoy about chamber music isn’t just the great repertoire, but also the fact that we really have a good time doing it,” says Sørensen. “The atmosphere is important. Everyone should feel safe and inspired.”

The Academy attracts students in their 20s from as many as 20 countries – from the US and Australia to Palestine and Norway. With variations every year, the programme includes masterclasses, coaching, workshops in folk music or improvisation, folk dancing, football and talks with people from other art forms. “It’s about building a sense of community,” Sørensen notes. “Chamber music is a direct form of communication. In a strong quartet, you can sense the relationship between the players, and the audience can too.”

In that sense, teaching also reflects back on their own work. “Having played together for almost 25 years, we’re still very good friends. Creating a space where people can experience that connection is deeply meaningful to us,” he says. “The goal is to show that yes, of course, hard work and technical skills matter – but so does joy, humility, and curiosity.”

A legacy beyond performance

The DSQ Academy is part of the ensemble’s broader mission to make classical music accessible, personal, and alive. As violist Asbjørn Nørgaard puts it: “Music has immense power, and it would be a tragedy if it all ended up being reduced to talent shows for kids. It’s important that someone keeps insisting on preserving this art form.”

That belief is reflected across various projects – the DSQ Festival in Copenhagen, which presents a serious repertoire in informal settings, the Series of Four, an international concert series in Copenhagen combining world-class music and cold beer, or the globally acclaimed albums that vary from Beethoven and Nordic folk to contemporary music with various collaborations. At the moment, they even have film music by Johnny Greenwood in the repertoire.

“There’s just so much we want to explore,” says Sørensen. “Of course, we’ve played most of the mainstream repertoire by now, but there’s still a whole iceberg of possibilities out there. For me, it’s about testing the limits, seeing what hasn’t been done with a string quartet before, and also showing younger groups that anything is possible. It just takes creativity and imagination.”

And what lies ahead? For Sørensen and the quartet, the path remains full of joy and possibilities. “It would be super nice to grow old together with this quartet. The music is just something we have in common, but it’s also about being part of each other’s lives. That’s what keeps it real. And if we can open up new doors for others as we go, then that’s even better.”

The Danish String Quartet: honoured with the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025

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Winners of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2025 (left to right): violinist Frederik Øland, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard, violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin.

Over the years, the Danish String Quartet has received numerous pres tigious accolades, including Musical America’s 2020 Ensemble of the Year, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, and the Carl Nielsen Prize, Denmark’s highest cultural honour. They were also BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists and members of The Bowers Program. In 2025, they became the f irst ensemble to receive the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.

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