WHERE CHAMBER MUSIC, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TALENT MEET

Winner of the Creative Europe – European Platforms 2021 competition, MERITA is a platform for musicians, mentors, historical houses, and concert organizers, working both online and offline, to re-invigorate the tradition of classical music performance in Europe. It is co-financed by the European Union.

MERITA works to increase the visibility and circulation of emerging European string quartets while promoting cultural heritage sites across Europe. Together, the MERITA platform members create opportunities to redefine performance, reach wider audiences, and foster an artistic connection between tradition and innovation.

38 QUARTETS
156 CONCERTS
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A new way to experience

Through its concert series, MERITA presents classical music as a meeting point for tradition and transformation. The quartets will each create an original and unique project, and perform these innovative concerts in a variety of cultural venues, including historical houses and 9 cultural sites in Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered programme. Situating these concerts in heritage sites creates a dialogue between Europe’s past and present, and points the way to a vital future for Europe’s cultural heritage.

17 PARTNERS
12 COUNTRIES

A new way to perform

MERITA’s emerging string quartets, made up of members between 18 and 35 years old, explore new ideas for classical music performance, invite new audiences, and shape the future of chamber music. Working with mentors and experienced performers, these young musicians will learn new skills and explore important ideas in modern performance. Through artistic residencies in historical houses, they will expand and internationalize their careers.

30 HISTORIC HOUSES
9 CULTURAL SITES
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A new way to connect

MERITA, coordinated by Le Dimore del Quartetto, brings together 17 leading musical and cultural organizations from 12 European countries. Each offers a unique perspective on and approach to classical music in the modern world, linked by their commitment to supporting new musicians while keeping alive music’s precious heritage. By connecting emerging talent with experts in performance with impact, MERITA aims to forge a vital and sustainable future for European classical music.

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SUSTAINABILITY

MERITA promotes a sustainable business model that unites emerging chamber music artists, audiences, and cultural heritage, fostering among others the exchange of best practices for artists, environmental sustainability and awareness. MERITA provides a specific training for the 38 string quartets on Sustainable Events, environmental management analysis for cultural venues, and a Carbon Footprint Tool for chamber music concerts.

Get in touch

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