About us
We are the Flare Quartet, an international string quartet known for our energetic stage presence and artistic choices, in which contemporary music, classical repertoire, and diverse genres reinforce one another. Our ensemble consists of Dutch violinists Linde van de Ven and Maartje Rosmulder, Spanish violist Gabriel Torner Alsina, and Canadian cellist Laurence Gaudreau. We consciously program music of today and regularly collaborate with (Dutch) composers. Artistic curiosity and diverse collaborations are therefore central to our programming. With a strong focus on newly written music and interdisciplinary collaboration, we position ourselves as a new generation string quartet that naturally connects tradition and innovation.
In 2026, we will further expand our activities through new collaborations and productions. We will perform in the newly composed opera Feest with Holland Opera and collaborate with the Ruysdael Quartet during the ZOOM! Festival, where we will premiere a new work by Benjamin de Murashkin. That same year, our first recording will be released, dedicated to the First String Quartet by young Dutch composer Sem Hak. In addition to these collaborations, we present several of our own programs on stages throughout the Netherlands.
We are part of the postgraduate program of the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA), led by artistic director Marc Danel, where we receive coaching from leading chamber musicians including Lukas Hagen (Hagen Quartett), Emmanuel François (Quatuor Van Kuijk), Pierre Colombet (Quatuor Ebene) and members of the Danel Quartet. We have also participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Gregor Sigl (Artemis Quartet), Sebastian Koloski (Utrecht String Quartet), Daniel Rowland, and the Pražák Quartet.
Over the past years, we have performed in concert halls and festivals both in the Netherlands and internationally, including the Concertgebouw, TivoliVredenburg, Ancienne Belgique, Paradiso Tolhuistuin, and the Vondelpark Openluchttheater. We have appeared at festivals such as Gaudeamus, Le Guess Who?, the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, and the Melkweg Film Festival, and since 2023 we have returned annually to Le Guess Who?.
In 2026, we will further expand our activities through new collaborations and productions. We will perform in the newly composed opera Feest with Holland Opera and collaborate with the Ruysdael Quartet during the ZOOM! Festival, where we will premiere a new work by Benjamin de Murashkin. That same year, our first recording — dedicated to the First String Quartet by Dutch composer Sem Hak, following our initial recording project in 2025 — will be released. Alongside these collaborations, we continue to bring our own programs to stages throughout the Netherlands and beyond.
Our quartet started during the COVID pandemic, while we were all studying at the Conservatory of Utrecht. Ever since we’ve been playing together with a lot of joy. As four very different musicians we are always looking for new ways to explore our playing, inspiring not only each other, but hopefully also our listeners.
We consciously program music of today and collaborate closely with living composers, especially young and emerging voices such as Sem Hak and Peter Davis. Alongside our work within the classical tradition, we frequently collaborate with artists beyond the classical world, including Phoria, Eline Verkuijl, Lido Pimienta, and Liliane Chlela, collaborations we have developed over several years at Le Guess Who? Festival.
Ensemble
Linde van de Ven started playing the violin at a young age, and soon developed a passion for string quartet playing. Her first string quartet experience was with the ZoLiSaSa quartet, at age 7. After playing in different string quartets, as both a violin player and a viola player, she now plays in the Flare Quartet.
Linde studied violin with Peter Brunt, Lis Perry and Chris Duindam at the Conservatory of Utrecht, and with Ana Comesaña in Madrid. During her studies she played in the Ricciotti Ensemble, where she played music everywhere and for everyone, especially for people who don’t normally encounter (classical) live music. This is still one of her main reasons for making music
Linde van de Ven
Maartje Rosmulder is a violinist, conductor and producer. She studied violin with Chris Duindam and Elisabeth Perry at the HKU Utrecht Conservatory and received conducting lessons from Sander Teepen, Jurjen Hempel and Bas Pollard.
She regularly plays in chamber music performances (e.g. with the Rietveld ensemble) and in various orchestras. She gained experience as programmer and producer at Stiching Eigen Muziekinstrument, which she uses in her work with Flare. She is frequently asked to coach chamber music ensembles and conduct orchestras, such as the USConcert, Philharmonie Amsterdam, Noord Hollands Jeugd Orkest and CREA-Orkest.
Maartje Rosmulder
Gabriel Torner Alsina began his studies as a violist with Montse Vallvé at the age of 13. He studied with Ashan Pillai and Mikhail Zemtsov in Barcelona, The Hague and Utrecht.
As a member of the Flare Quartet he played at chamber music festivals such as Le Guess Who? Festival, IKFU in Utrecht and Zomerconcerten Dordrecht. He currently works as a freelancer throughout the Netherlands and participates in projects such as NASKA, Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht and Phion Orkest.
Gabriel Torner Alsina
Laurence Gaudreau is a French-Canadian cellist based in the Netherlands, known for her versatile artistry and many collaborations.
Seamlessly bridging the gap between classical, experimental, pop and electronic music, she strives to redefine contemporary music by pushing boundaries and creating new artistic dialogues. In addition to the Flare Quartet, Laurence also plays in the cello octet Ensemble CelloWercken, the electroacoustic duo TIDE, the genre-bending collective Mouthful and the experimental early music duo Miss Mazzy & LAURENCE.
Laurence Gaudreau