Meet Franklin Quartet’s violinist, Marika Holmqvist:

During her quarter-century career as baroque violinist, Marika Holmqvist has appeared as a concertmaster for orchestras and opera companies on three continents, directed ensembles on both sides of the Atlantic, and served as artistic co-director for groups in the USA such as Sinfonia New York and the Boston-based ensemble, Cambridge Concentus. Currently her leadership positions include Washington Bach Consort (DC), Reykjavik International Baroque Orchestra (Iceland), Zenith Ensemble (NH), and Fort Wayne Bach Collegium, among others. Marika is also a dedicated and passionate educator. She has served as coach and guest leader for baroque operas at Cornell, Harvard and Rutgers Universities, and given master-classes and lectures at institutions across Europe. Alongside her master’s degree in baroque violin performance from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands, she also graduated with a master’s in baroque violin pedagogy—the first such degree ever granted in Europe. Marika is a proud founding member of Philadelphia’s Franklin Quartet, and her 20-odd recordings include the Grammy-nominated Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Trinity Wall Street Choir and Baroque Orchestra. She has a Finn’s love for the outdoors and when she is not performing or teaching, you will most likely find her cross-country skiing, hiking, kayaking, or biking.