Founded in 2022, the Motus Quartet is an international string quartet based in Vienna, comprised of violinists Tim de Vries and Karla Križ, violist Erin Pitts and cellist Domonkos Hartmann. The ensemble was formed during their studies in Vienna, where they currently study with Johannes Meissl at the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw). The quartet has received further artistic guidance from Oliver Wille, Eckart Runge, Valentin Erben, Hatto Beyerle, Peter Schuhmayer and Gregor Sigl, among others. 

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A particularly formative experience is their continued collaboration with György Kurtág, working closely with the composer on several works, including his 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13, as well as the music of Béla Bartók and Franz Schubert. The quartet has also collaborated with the Arditti Quartet.

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In May 2026, the Motus Quartet was awarded First Prize and received four Special Prizes at the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, one of today's leading competitions. In March 2025, the ensemble was awarded First Prize and Special Prize for the Best Interpretation of an Early Classical Work at the 10th International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition in Weimar. 

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Most recently, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Music Prize of the Jürgen Ponto Foundation. The prize is worth €60,000 and includes concert engagements at the Beethovenfest Bonn, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Tonhalle Zurich, Vienna Konzerthaus and FaustForum in Staufen. 

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The Motus Quartet is part of the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) and holds a scholarship from Accademia Perosi. They have given debut performances at the Konzerthaus Vienna, the Musikverein Vienna, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo and London's Wigmore Hall, with recent engagements across most of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Later this year, the quartet will return to Suntory Hall and tour extensively throughout China and Japan, followed by a North American tour for the Honolulu Chamber Music Series. In spring of 2027, the quartet will return to the United States and perform in New York City and Washington D.C. 

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Tim de Vries performs on a violin made by Lorenzo Storioni (Cremona, 1793). Karla Križ plays a composite Andrea Guarneri violin (Cremona, 17th century). Erin Pitts performs on a viola made by Julia Maria Pasch (Vienna, 2019). Domonkos Hartmann plays a cello by Raffaele and Antonio Gagliano (Naples, 1850), previously played by Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet.