The Takács Quartet will enter a new chapter in 2026. The ensemble has announced that András Fejér, its founding cellist and the last remaining member of the original 1975 lineup, will retire at the end of the 2025–26 season. His successor will be Mihai Marica, who joins the quartet on 1 September 2026.
A five-decade legacy
Fejér’s 51 years with the Takács mark one of the longest tenures of any cellist in a major string quartet. Throughout this period, the ensemble rose to international prominence, touring widely and earning significant recognition across the chamber music world. The current members — Edward Dusinberre, Harumi Rhodes, Richard O’Neill, and Fejér — described their colleague as a musician of “strength and integrity,” noting his artistic impact and long-standing presence at the heart of the quartet.
Fejér, reflecting on his retirement, said that “after 51 years this feels like it’s the right time,” adding heartfelt thanks to the audiences, presenters, and supporters who accompanied the quartet’s journey.
Mihai Marica to join in 2026
Romanian-born cellist Mihai Marica will become the quartet’s new cellist beginning with the 2026–27 season. He already has a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, with first prizes at the Dr. Luis Sigall International Competition in Viña del Mar and the Irving M. Klein International Competition, and is a former member of the Amphion String Quartet and the Apollo Trio.
Alongside his role in the quartet, Marica will join the faculty of the University of Colorado, Boulder, where the Takács have held a long-standing residency. He described his appointment as “a dream come true,” noting his admiration for Fejér’s musicianship and his enthusiasm for beginning this new collaboration.
Looking ahead
The Takács Quartet’s first season with Marica will feature a focus on the music of Gabriela Lena Frank, a North American tour with Jeremy Denk performing Franck’s Piano Quintet, and appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall, where the ensemble is an Associate Artist.
The announcement comes as the quartet receives the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award from Chamber Music America, recognising its long-standing contribution to the chamber music field. The award will be formally presented in August 2026.
About the Takács Quartet
Formed in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Takács Quartet has become one of the world’s leading chamber ensembles. Now celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, the group was recently profiled by The New York Times and featured on the cover of The Strad. Their anniversary season included two acclaimed Hyperion releases — Ngwenyama’s Flow, written for the quartet, and an album of piano quintets by Dvořák and Florence Price with Marc-André Hamelin. Resident at the University of Colorado, Boulder since 1986, the quartet maintains an extensive international schedule, performing in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall (where they are Associate Artists), the Concertgebouw, and the Konzerthaus Berlin. Known for their innovative programming and collaborations, the Takács has premiered works by composers including Gabriela Lena Frank, Clarice Assad, and Bryce Dessner, and has recorded widely for Hyperion, Decca/London, and other labels, earning multiple Gramophone Awards, a Grammy, and the Wigmore Hall Medal.
Subscribe to our newsletter