About

About us

Absalon String Quartet started as a corona-project in 2020 so when others made bread and babies we started playing string quartet.

Our first performance was at the Rued Langgaard Konkurrence 2021 which we left with first prize and great repertoire at our hands. Next milestone in our career was winning P2 Kammermusikkonkurrence 2023. We enjoy playing concerts in Denmark and Sweden and mixing classical quartet music with newly written pieces. The first big inspiration we came upon our way was David Harrington from the Kronos Quartet. We met him during Festspillene i Bergen, Norway, where he introduced us to a wide spectrum of sounds and newly written repertoire for string quartets.

Our home is Copenhagen

…and that is where our name comes from – Absalon was a founder of Copenhagen in the 12th century. Here we study with professor Tim Frederiksen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and also take lessons with the members of the Danish String Quartet. We have been fortunate to attend their Danish String Quartet Academy in 2022. In 2023 we have been awarded a prestigious prize from Leonié Sonnings Musikfond.

about us personally

Thera Ortved graduated from Sankt Annæ Gymnasium and Copenhagen MGK in 2019, where she studied with Michael Malmgreen. She continued with prof. Malmgreen at The Royal Danish Academy of Music, from where she finished her bachelor’s degree with the highest grades in 2022. She is currently studying her first year of master’s with Alexandre Zapolski. Thera is the recipient of a special prize in the Serguei Azizian Competition 2020 at RDAM granted by Scandinavian Cello School. In 2019 Thera was chosen as the overall winner of the Jacob Gade Violin Competition. She is also recipient of first prize in Berlingske Klassiske Musikkonkurrence and Jacob Gade Violin Competition 2016. Thera has participated in numerous masterclasses and have performed as soloist several times. Thera is grateful to have received Carl Nielsen & Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen’s Talent Prize 2022 and Jacob Gades Grant 2020.

Andreas Lienhøft Larsen born May 28, 1999 is a Danish violinist studying his second year of Masters at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music with Professor Alexandre Zapolski. He finished his Bachelor degree in 2021 with the highest grades. Graduate of the following institutions: the talent line in Køge, Køge MGK, Sankt Annæ MGK and the Royal Danish Music Conservatory. Andreas has been 1st prize winner in a number of violin and music competitions including Berlingske Music Competition, Jacob Gade Violin Competition and Young Classical Playing. In May 2019 he performed Brahms Violin Concerto as soloist in a concert series with Amateur Symphonics Symphony Orchestra and also performed many times as a soloist with, among others, the Zapolski Strings, Junior Strings, Tivoli Garden, SASO and Storstrøm’s Chamber Ensemble.

Alva Rasmussen started playing violin at the age of 9 at the local music school of her hometown, and switched to viola at the age of 17 while studying at Lilla Akademiens Musikgymnasium in Stockholm. She went on to study her bachelors’ degree at the RDAM in Copenhagen, from where she graduated in 2020 with highest distinction. She’s currently finishing up her masters’ degree, also at the RDAM, with professor Tim Frederiksen and Magda Stevensson. She held the position of assistant principal viola in chamber orchestra, Camerata Nordica, for two seasons, 2020-2022. During her time there she got to perform in chamber music with musicians such as Ellen Nisbeth and Jonatan Fournel. She is a laureate of the first Oskar Nedbal international viola competition in 2019, where she won best interpretation of the mandatory piece as well as an honorary mention for promising young players.

Hedda Lydianna Aadland is a Norwegian cellist who graduated from the young talents program of Barratt-Due music institute studying with Louisa Tuck, before she continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik Köln, where she is currently pursuing her bachelors degree with Professor Johannes Moser. Hedda has won numerous first prizes in competitions including Jugend musiziert, UMM, Sparre Olsen and the honarary price in the Midgard competition. Hedda made her solo debut performing Schumann cello concerto with the Kaunas city symphony orchestra at the age of 14. Since then she has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, and most recently with the Norwegian radio orchestra. Hedda is an active chamber musician, and has performed at festivals all over Norway, in addition to Performing in the palace in Norway, and in the Norwegian embassy in Rome. Hedda also enjoys orchestra playing, and was selected as principal cellist for the young Oslo philharmonic program for two consecutive years. Hedda feels lucky to have been part of several mentor programs including the Hemsing academy, Papillon in Valdres, and Spire in Bodø.