Risus Quartet
　Haeni Lee, violin I (PMF 2018)
　Jieun Yoo, violin II (PMF 2019)
　Mary Eunkyung Chang, viola (PMF 2018)
　Yukyung Ma, cello

Founded in May 2020, the Risus Quartet takes its name from the Latin word for “laughter,” reflecting the group’s mission to bring joy to audiences through music. The quartet is composed of violinists Haeni Lee and Jieun Yoo, violist Mary Eunkyung Chang, and cellist Yukyung Ma – all graduates of Seoul National University. After completing their undergraduate studies, each member pursued further education in the United States and Germany, earning master’s and advanced performance degrees from institutions including Indiana University, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Lübeck Musik Hochschule, and the University of Texas at Austin. The quartet completed the prestigious Graduate String Quartet Residency Program at the University of Texas at Austin under the mentorship of the Miró Quartet.

Risus Quartet made history in 2021 by becoming the first Korean ensemble to win the Gold Medal in the Senior String Division at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, along with the Grand Prize across all categories. Their victory led to a U.S. concert tour and a recording session at Guarneri Hall in Chicago, supported by Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins.

In 2022, the quartet embarked on an Italy tour and received the Special Prize at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. They also won the 37th Annual Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition in Ohio and reached the semifinals of the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. In 2023, they were awarded 3rd Prize and the Special Prize for Contemporary Music Interpretation at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. Most recently, they received a Special Prize at the 13th Artsylvia Chamber Music Audition in 2024.

In Korea, Risus Quartet has maintained an active concert presence, holding regular recitals at major venues such as Lotte Concert Hall (debut in 2022), Seoul Arts Center (annual concerts in 2023 and 2024), and participating in notable events including the Gwangju, Busan, and Daegu Arts Centers, Jeju International Chamber Music Festival, The House Concert, Bucheon Art Center, DMZ Festival, Rendez-vous Festival, and Ilshin Prism Concert Series. Their concerts have been supported by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture.

Beyond competitions, the quartet has continued their musical development through full scholarships to programs such as the Chigiana International Festival & Summer Academy (2022) and McGill International String Quartet Academy (MISQA), studying with masters including Günter Pichler, Gerhard Schulz, and Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet, as well as Heime Müller of the Artemis Quartet.

This is the Risus Quartet’s second appearance at PMF.