The Eybler Quartet formed out of an unquenchable passion and shared delight in exploring the early string quartet repertoire. The Eyblers quickly made a specialty of dusting off neglected gems and playing them as if they were composed yesterday. Named after Mozart’s friend Joseph Leopold Edler von Eybler, the Toronto-based ensemble both embraces works that sit just off the beaten path and delivers a fresh take on the best-known works.

Performing on period instruments, the Quartet combines finely honed ensemble instincts with a sense of adventure that keeps audiences constantly engaged. Critics have praised their playing as “glowing and committed” and “lively and energizing” - what stands out is their ability to reveal the breadth of human expression embedded in this music - wit, drama, joy, longing and some quirky mischief along the way. Their recordings of Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven have been widely acclaimed for their freshness and emotional transparency, bringing a striking immediacy to works that can too easily feel overly familiar.

The Eybler Quartet is equally at home in concert halls and more unconventional spaces, often performing in the round or crafting intimate, conversational experiences that invite listeners into the music. Beyond performance, they are thoughtful advocates for historically informed playing, exploring how 18th-century ideas of expression, rhetoric, and passion can still feel vivid—and even a little dangerous—today.

Violinists Julia Wedman and Patricia Ahern and violist Patrick G. Jordan are members of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra; cellist Margaret Gay maintains a dynamic career across both modern and period performance. Together, they bring a blend of scholarship, spontaneity, and unmistakable personality to everything they play.