The Elios String Quartet is dedicated to making music of the highest calibre for any special event. Whether it’s an intimate wedding ceremony or a large reception, a private birthday celebration or a corporate gathering, a performance by the quartet will add sophistication and elegance to the occasion.

Elios offers you a polished and superb quality musical experience because:

• we are passionate about, and love what we do
• we are accomplished professional musicians with many years of performing experience  internationally  and in NZ (see Player Biographies below)
• simply put – we sound great -listen to our audio clips and see for yourself!
• our repertoire covers a huge range of attractive music in many styles from Baroque and Classical through to tangos, light jazz, pop and well known melodies from the movies, shows and musicals . Something for everyone!
• we can give you excellent advice about appropriate music choices for your special occasion
• we can perform in any venue or setting such as a church, vineyard, luxury lodge, private residence, garden, or even on the beach
• our attention to detail and behind-the-scenes  preparation ensures that we are performing at our best for your event and that everything runs as seemlessly as possible

 Individually, the members of Elios  also  pursue active careers in the orchestral world, as well as teaching and performing chamber music. Elios members are Principal players in the Vector Wellington Orchestra and are regularly engaged by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. As our first violinist is also an accomplished soprano saxophone player, you may wish to include some items for sax and strings at your event to add an extra dimension.

Originally established in 2004, reformed and renamed in 2007, the Elios Quartet is based in the Wellington area and will travel anywhere in New Zealand. Previous clients have included Scientific institutes, Chamber of Commerces, Colleges of General Practitioners, Bride of the Year Shows and International Toyota Executives to name a few, as well as many wedding couples.

Our quartet will provide you with a classy  musical setting for your special occasion. Enjoy browsing our website and please contact us if you have any questions.

The Elios String Quartet looks forward to playing for you!

Player Biographies

Martin Jaenecke - Violin

Born in Luebeck, Germany, Martin studied violin with Professor Rainer Kussmaul (ex concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) at the Musik Hochschule in Freiburg, graduating with a Diploma in Violin Performance (Bachelor of Music Degree) in 1985. In 1986 he became a member of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he played violin for three years before being appointed to a viola position in 1989.

During a years leave in 1990, Martin undertook viola studies with Tabea Zimmermann and in 1991 completed his “Solisten Klasse” Diploma with Vladimir Mendelssohn at Rotterdam Conservatorium. His special love is playing chamber music and he was fortunate to study with members of the Quartetto Italiano, Alban Berg Quartet and Vienna String Sextet.

In 2001 Martin moved to NZ with his wife Victoria and their two children, living in the Nelson area until 2007. There he was First Violinist of the 4té String Quartet and the founding Musical Director of the VIVA Chamber Orchestra, a mixed amateur/professional group with whom he has produced two CD’s. With Trio con Brio he has performed many concerts, toured for Chamber Music New Zealand and released the CD “Playera” in 2007. Martin is a regular performer at the Adam NZ Festival of Chamber Music in Nelson and he also composes and plays the soprano saxophone.

Konstanze Artmann – Violin

Konstanze studied violin and viola in Salzburg and Utrecht, and completed postgraduate studies in The Hague with Isabelle van Keulen. She has participated in many masterclasses including The International Musicians Seminar in Prussia Cove. An active chambermusician, Konstanze has been a member of many permanent chamber ensembles such as the Trio d’Orion in Amsterdam and the Mignon Quartet in Munich. Orchestrally, she has worked with various chamber orchestras in Salzburg , also the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg and was the Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Netherlands Ballet Orchestra. On previous trips to New Zealand she has been Acting Principal Viola of both the Christchurch Symphony and the Wellington Sinfonia. Having returned permanently to New Zealand in 2007, Konstanze is a now working as a contract violinist with the NZSO and is Principal Second Violin with the Vector Wellington Orchestra.

Victoria Jaenecke – Viola

Growing up in Christchurch, Victoria began her viola studies with Elizabeth Rogers at the Christchurch Conservatoire of Music. She completed a Bachelor of Music Degree in Brisbane in 1985, was a member of the Queensland Symphony for five years and also played for three months in the Melbourne Symphony before going to Germany in 1991. Victoria studied at the Munich Musikhochschule for two years with Professor Hariolf Schlichtig and then over the next eight years was engaged under contract by the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Since returning to New Zealand in 2001, highlights have included working with the New Zealand String Quartet, the NZ Chamber Soloists, concerts at the Adam NZ Festival of Chamber Music, and solo work with the Christchurch Symphony. Victoria was a founding member of the VIVA Chamber Orchestra in Nelson and a member of the 4té String Quartet..

At present she is Section Leader Viola with the Vector Wellington Orchestra, a contract player with the NZSO and Violist in Trio con Brio.

Paul Mitchell – Cello

Paul studied cello at Auckland University with Coral Bognuda. In 1987 he won a scholarship for post graduate study at the Royal College of Music, London. There he studied with Christopher Bunting and also participated in masterclasses with William Pleeth and chambermusic classes with the Chilingirian String Quartet.

In 1991 Paul moved to Spain where he spent the next decade, holding principal positions with the Orquesta Sinfonica de las Baleares ,with whom he has also performed the Elgar Concerto, and the Orquesta de Cordoba. As cellist of the La Havana String Quartet, Paul toured to contemporary music festivals in Spain as well as giving concerts in Switzerland and Holland.

Returning to New Zealand in 2003, Paul now regularly works as a contract player for the NZSO, is Sub- Principal Cello of the Vector Wellington Orchestra, and was Acting -Principal Cello for the Auckland Philharmonia in 2007. Recent highlights for Paul include playing in the production of “Trial of the Cannibal Dog” , and the “12 Cellos” Concert with Steven Isserlis at the NZ Arts Festival 2008 .