Metis is an ancient Greek mythological figure, an Oceanid from the second generation of Titans. The Greek word “metis” denotes quality that combined wisdom, cunning and skills.

“Mettis” string quartet was founded in 2011, professors’ Augustinas Vasiliauskas string quartet class of Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT). All members – Kostas Tumosa (violin), Bernardas Petrauskas (violin),  Karolis Rudokas (viola) and Rokas Vaitkevičius (cello) – are laureates of many republican and international competitions. They regulary perform solo, chamber music concerts, participates in various projects, masterclasses and in general are active persons of Lithuanian musical life. From the first performances young and ambicious quartet was rated as one of the most perspective ensembles of LAMT.

“Mettis” quartet regularly participates in masterclasses: They regularly participates in ECMA (European chamber music academy) sessions: Vilnius, Oslo (Norway), Grossraming, Vienna-Graffenegg (Austria). From 2014 September “Mettis” are the members of ECMA. The quartet also took part in ISA’12 and ISA‘14 summer academies (Reichenau, Austria). They have worked with very famous European chamber music performers and professors: Johannes Meissl (Artis quartet, Austria), Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg quartet, Austria), Avedis Koyoumdjian (piano, Austria), Miguel da Silva, Yovan Markovich (both Ysaye quartet, France), Petr Prause (Talich quartet, Czech Republic/England), Peter Judt (Austria) Anita Mitterer (Mosaiques quartet, Austria), Josef Kluson (Pražak quartet, Czech Republic), Evgenia Epshtein (Aviv quartet, Israel), Piotr Tarcholik (violin), Zdislaw Lapinski(cello) (both Poland), Paavo Pohjola (Finland), Cremona quartet (Italy), Per Lundberg (piano, Sweden), Wolfgang Klos (viola, Austria), Are Sandbakken (Oslo quartet, Norway) and others. Because of succesful performances in ISA’12 competition and concerts, quartet was awarded with Vienna‘s university of Arts Joseph Haydn institute prize, in ISA’14 the quartet got two awards – chamber music award and Gottfried von Einem foundation award for outstanding interpretation of composer‘s string quartet. In 2016 the quartet won 2nd place in the 8th Bordeaux (France) international string quartet contest. The quartet was also awarded a special prize.

In 2012 autumn „Mettis“ was selected for the masterclasses in Villecroze academy of music (France), where they have worked with legendary Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel and Ysaye quartet viola player Miguel da Silva. After these masterclasses, on 2012-10-25 „Mettis“ quartet played their debut recital in National museum of applied arts in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 2012 December they have won the 1st place and special prize in XII international Lithuanian chamber music performance competition in Vilnius and also were selected to represent the academy in Harmos‘13 festival (Porto, Portugal), where they had three successful concerts. In 2013 May “Mettis” have participated in European Festival of Music Academies (EFAM), where they represented LAMT. In 2013 June quartet was invited to take part in 49th Chamber music festival of Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

Recently “Mettis” is intensively improving, preparing new programs and performing. In 2015 April they travelled to Oslo (Norway) and in May to Vienna-Graffenegg (Austria) ECMA sessions. Straight after – to Bordeaux (France) string quartet festival, where they have participated in masterclasses and concerts. There “Mettis” have successfully performed the String quintet by Mozart together with Ysaye quartet viola player Miguel da Silva. In June the quartet performed string octet by F.Mendelsohn in Vilnius festival together with Cremona quartet (Italy). Recently “Mettis” have released their debut CD with Beethoven and Shostakovich string quartets. In 2016 January “Mettis” had their concert debut in prestigious “Wigmore hall” in London (England).