The Jerusalem Quartet plays its only concert in the Otago Festival of the Arts in the Glenroy Auditorium tonight.
"We all met at high school, at the Jerusalem Academy High School, and started the quartet 15 years ago.
''We've still got all the same members, which is quite amazing," viola player Amichai Grosz said.
At 29, Grosz is the youngest member of the quartet; the oldest is 31.
"We play classical music from the modern and romantic periods.
''We start with Haydn, who was the founder of the quartet form, so it's always nice to hear him.
''Then we go to the modern period, almost 400 years after Haydn, to the Borodin Quartet, which is very romantic."
Grosz says classical music is "sometimes only thought of for grown-ups or old people.''
''But, we're all young people.
''Many young people understand that you can have a great groove in classical music."
"Many young people come to our concerts.
''If you learn classical music, you will love it.
''It's quite dominant, especially in Europe.
''I don't have any fear it will disappear."
The group's distinctive brand of fiery sweetness has given it an international reputation as a dynamic quartet.
The Jerusalem Quartet last performed in Dunedin in 2004 and most recently toured New Zealand in 2006.
Following its New Zealand visit, it will tour Australia, where it will be Musica Viva Australia's quartet-in-residence until next year.
The quartet's latest CD release is an all-Schubert disc, featuring the Death and the Maiden Quartet, coupled with the Quartettsatz.
Tonight's programme is String Quartet Opus 33 No 3 "The Bird"(Haydn), Cantus II (Mark Kopytman) and String Quartet No 2 in D (Borodin).
The Jerusalem Quartet performs at 8pm in the Glenroy Auditorium.
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