The Dominion String Quartet was formed in 2006 specifically to record string quartets by New Zealand composers, and has taken its name from the centenary of the creation of the dominion of New Zealand in 1907. This event coincided with the Christchurch International Exhibition of 1906–07 at which Alfred Hill was the conductor of the country’s first full-time professional orchestra. His seventeen string quartets provided the perfect initial project for the DSQ as they are not only the first significant examples of the string quartet genre from Australasia, but are also very fine works of international stature.

Following the unprecedented success of Alfred Hill’s String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Naxos 8.570491), through international reviews and broadcasts, the DSQ has established a significant concert profile and is joined on occasion by acclaimed pianist Richard Mapp, as the New Zealand Dominion Piano Quintet.

Yury Gezentsvey (first violin), originally from Russia, is a principal first violinist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician and Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music.