The Michelangelo String Quartet was formed in 2002 by 4 musicians, distinguished as soloists, chamber musicians and teachers, who share an irresistible desire to play the greatest repertoire of all. In their first season, they had tours in the UK and Japan, concerts in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, the Zurich Tonhalle. In 2004 they played some concerts at Swedish Festivals, Naantali Festival and Sion Festival and in August 2005 they performed in the Edinburgh Festival. From 2007 they have signed a recording contract for the coming 8 seasons to record all Beethoven stringquartets for Pan Classics.

Romanian violinist Mihaela Martin has continued, through her teacher Stefan Gheorghiu, a violinistic line including David Oistrach and Georges Enesco. Major prizes in the Tchaikovsky Competition and the First Indianapolis International Violin Competition, ensured her international career. Her chamber music partners have included Marta Argerich, Yuri Bashmet, Elisabeth Leonskaja Nobuko Imai, Leon Fleischer & Menahim Pressler. She is a professor at the the Musikhochschule, Cologne.

Stephan Picard studied with Saschko Gawriloff, Stefan Gheorghiu, and Roman Nodel. In 1984 he won the International Maria Canals Violin Competition of Barcelona and the German National Music Competition. He has since developed an extensive international career, appearing with major orchestras, and participating in prestigious international festivals. He is teaching as Professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler " Berlin (Academy of Music Berlin).

Former Vermeer Quartet member, Japanese-born Nobuko Imai is considered one of the most out-standing viola players of our time. After studying at the Toho School of Music, Yale University and the Julliard School, she won high prizes at the Munich and Geneva International Competitions. Distinguished chamber music collaborators include Gidon Kremer, Midori, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Andras Schiff and Ronald Brautigam. She holds professorships at the Amsterdam Conservatory and in Geneva.

During the 1970's the Swedish cellist/conductor Frans Helmerson was principal 'cellist of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he received important musical influences from Celibidache. William Pleeth and Rostropovich were also important musical influences. He now combines his love of chamber music with conducting, solo performances and frequent guest appearances at major international festivals. He holds a professorship at the Musikhochschule in Cologne.