Monique LAPINS

Monique commenced violin at an early age via the Suzuki method and pursued her studies in music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music (Adelaide University), the Australian National Academy of Music (Melbourne) and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Singapore). Her principal violin teachers were Nicholas Milton, James Cuddeford, William Hennessy, and Professor Qian Zhou. Monique was also mentored by members of the Tokyo, Australian, Shanghai and T’ang String Quartets and has participated in numerous education programs including: the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy, (Okushiga), the IMS Prussia Cove Masterclasses (UK), the International Holland Music Sessions (Netherlands), the Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra (Japan), and the Emerging Artists Program, managed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Monique joined the internationally acclaimed New Zealand String Quartet in 2016. The quartet has enjoyed international acclaim for its programming vision, exciting performances, and award-winning CDs. The quartet celebrated their 35th season in 2022. Monique is also a devoted educator and mentor, she teaches at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī (Victoria University) where the NZSQ has a long-standing position as Quartet-in-Residence. 

Monique is an international musician who has performed as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing at major festivals throughout France, the Czech Republic, Holland, Japan, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Australia, USA, Canada and at the Open Chamber Music Seminars in Prussia Cove (UK), directed by world-renowned cellist, Steven Isserlis. As a chamber musician Monique has collaborated with artists including Denés Várjon (Hungary), Pekka Kuusisto (Finland), Jerusalem String Quartet (Israel), Penderecki String Quartet (Canada), Piers Lane (NZ), Australian Chamber Orchestra Collective and Henning Kraggerud, Jian Liu (NZ) and Olivier Charlier (France). As a soloist, Monique has performed with the Auckland Philharmonia, Dunedin Symphony, and the Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra.

As an active and renowned interpreter of contemporary music, Monique has collaborated with and premiered pieces by distinguished composers including Martin Lodge (NZ), Gordon Kerry (AU), Ross Harris (NZ), Samson Young (HK), Simon Eastwood (NZ) and Jacob ter Veldhuis (NL) among others. 

Monique performs on a 1784 Lorenzo Storioni violin kindly loaned by David Duncan Craig on behalf of the Lily Duncan Trust.