About Us
The Astari String Quartet is a dynamic ensemble of young, passionate musicians dedicated to exploring new styles and pushing the boundaries of classical music. As emerging artists, we are deeply committed to refining our craft and expanding our repertoire, always striving to deliver fresh and innovative performances.
Our collective ambition is to make a lasting impact in the classical music world. As part of this journey, we are eager to participate in the ProQuartet Festival in France next year. This opportunity will allow us to further develop as an ensemble and connect with the vibrant community of string quartets from around the world.
ANNA POPIL
Born in Ukraine, Anna Popil is a violinist based in Brussels. She graduated from the Lviv National Music Academy and continued her studies with Tatiana Samouil at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp and the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles.
Anna is a laureate of numerous international competitions and has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. She has had the privilege of working with renowned musicians such as Razvan Popovici, Justus Grimm, Diana Ketler, Benjamin Braude, and Igor Kirichenko. Her orchestral experience includes performances with prestigious ensembles, including the Belgian National Orchestra, La Monnaie De Munt, Brussels Philharmonic, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, MuCH Ensemble, Young Belgian Strings, Virago Orchestra, Arte Amanti Chamber Orchestra, L’Ensemble Orchestral Européen, and Frascati Symphonic. She is also the concertmaster of the Virago Orchestra and the Romantics Chamber Orchestra.
In 2023, Anna won an audition to become an Academist at both La Monnaie De Munt and the Belgian National Orchestra. She has performed solo works such as Arvo Pärt’s Fratres with the student orchestra of Antwerp, and the Mendelssohn double concerto with her brother Markiyan at the Chapelle Musicale de Tournai.
Anna has been awarded prizes at competitions in Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia, including the Chamber Music Competition in Lviv and the Stankovych Fest in Zakarpattia. She plays on a Marc Paquin violin, made possible by a grant from the L’Instrument de Musicien foundation.
LUIS GREINER
Born in Venezuela, Luis Greiner began his violin studies at the age of six in the National System of Orchestras of Venezuela. He started orchestral practice at an early age, which led him to work with internationally renowned conductors and musicians such as Christian Vásquez, Rafael Payare, Paolo Bortolameolli, Lorenzo Gatto, Liviu Prunaru, Gustavo Dudamel, Alexander Kantorow, Martha Argerich, Sir Simon Rattle, and many others. He is currently studying in Belgium under the tutelage of Igor Tkatchouk and his assistant Caroline Poncelet, and also receives lessons and artistic guidance from Maestro Liviu Prunaru.
He has also had the privilege of receiving private lessons and masterclasses from renowned teachers such as Pablo Vásquez, Sergio Celis, David Núñez, Federico Agostini, Nikki & Timothy Chooi, Gilles Millet, Kati Sebestyen, Marc Power, Igor Tkatchouk, Shlomo Mintz, and Liviu Prunaru.
Luis has participated in significant orchestral and chamber music festivals in both Europe and South America. Since 2023, he has been a permanent member of the Young Belgian Strings.
Luis is frequently invited to play as part of professional orchestras such as Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie and the Belgian National Orchestra.
Luis plays a c.1830 Derazey violin, kindly loaned by the Anton Rubinstein Foundation in Düsseldorf, Germany.
LUCAS AERTS
Lucas is a Belgian violist who started playing at six years old with Wim De Cock at the Podiumacademie Lier where he graduated as laureate after receiving the highest point and compliments of the jury. He started his studies at the LUCA school of Arts in 2021 under the guidance of Marc Tooten with whom he studied for 2 years. Starting 2024 he commenced his studies with Marc Sabbah at the Royal Conservatory of Mons.
Lucas is a driven orchestra player holding principal positions in the LUCA Chamber Orchestra, LUCA Philharmonic, Cluster Philharmonic, LUCA Strings and Symfonie Orkest Vlaanderen Young. Additionally, his versatility as a musician is enriched by his contributions in the Mahler Student Festival Orchestra, Youth Orchestra Flanders and Antwerp Youth Orchestra where he hold places as co- leader and tutti.
Since May 2024 he is also a fixed member of the prestigious Young Belgian Strings with whom he traveled to Venice for concerts with Liviu Prunaru, Sylvia Huang and Lorenzo Gatto.
Over the years he also played with the Hermesensemble, Ataneres ensemble, the Zomeropera Alden-Biesen and many others.
His musical journey has been enriched by participating in numerous masterclasses with distinguished instructors such as Mihai Grosv, Liviu Prunaru, Lorenzo Gatto, Monique Heidema, István Lajkó, the Zemlinsky Quartet, and many others.
Lucas plays on a Natali Carletti Carlo, Pieve di Cento from 1949 kindly landed to him by the Anton Rubinstein Foundation in Düsseldorf.
URSZULA MARKOWSKA
She is a cellist of Polish origin, born in 1997 and based in Brussels. A graduate of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels, she is a laureate of international competitions for both soloists and chamber music ensembles. Since the beginning of her career, she has collaborated with musicians from around the world and participated in various festivals, which have allowed her to deepen her understanding of music and its stylistic evolution.
Urszula has performed at venues in Japan, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, and many other countries. She has professional experience as a soloist, as well as a chamber and orchestral musician, performing with ensembles such as La Monnaie / De Munt, Casco Phil, London Concert Sinfonia, Young Belgian Strings, Baltic Neopolis Orchestra, Primuz Chamber Orchestra, and Lodz Philharmonic.
As a chamber musician, she has had the unforgettable opportunity to perform on stage with renowned artists such as Daniel Stabrawa, Paavali Jumppanen, Tomoko Akasaka, José Gallardo, Jakub Jakowicz, and Szymon Krzeszowiec (Silesian Quartet).
Her discography includes five CD albums and several soundtracks for Polish films and short films. For several years, she has collaborated with sound engineers from Łódź Film School, the most prominent film academy in Poland. Thanks to this collaboration, she had the unforgettable pleasure of working with young directors while recording contemporary (often improvised) music for short films.
In addition to her active concert life, Urszula is deeply involved in organizing cultural and artistic events. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Primuz Foundation, which promotes Polish culture and supports young musicians in developing their careers.