About

Each a strong artistic force of her own, Pi Quartet emerged out of genuine friendship, through the shared exploration of contemporary classical music, and the forsaking of rules. The ensemble originated in Den Haag comprising Leah Plave (cello), Lidwine Dam (viola), Leslee Smucker (violin), and Hoei Lien The (violin). Pi Quartet is united by the vision of what a 21st century string quartet can be. They are deeply motivated by a love for spirited music and a drive to challenge the way meaningful concerts are conceived. Pi Quartet performs almost exclusively music by living composers and collaborates with artists across genres and disciplines.

They are the resident string quartet of Spaceship Ensemble, a technology‑centric new music collective with whom they appear regularly at festivals throughout the Netherlands such as Dag in de Branding, Birds of Paradise, and De Link. Some of Pi Quartet’s recent collaborators include Joey Roukens, Tony Njoku, and Zola Jesus. Since 2025, they have also served as a quartet in residence at the Netherlands String Quartet Academy.

The name "Pi," (π), symbolizes infinite possibilities surrounding a performance space and reflects their open, unconventional approach to their practice. The quartet is known for performing facing inward toward each other, allowing the audience to sit surrounding them and enjoy an alternative perspective on sound and engagement. Their performances always include discussions with the audiences and whenever possible, an introduction of a piece by the composer themself.