THE MELIORA QUARTET
Cillian Ó Cathasaigh, violin
Seán Hurley, violin
Kseniia Yershova, viola
Alina Obreja, cello

The Meliora Quartet was founded in September 2024 under the guidance of Christopher Marwood at the MTU Cork School of Music. Since its formation, the quartet has performed across Cork and Kerry, including appearances for the National String Quartet Foundation in Kinsale, Kenmare, and Youghal, as well as at the NSQF Gala Concert. In spring 2025 they opened the “Vanbrugh and Friends” Concert Series as part of FUAIM at UCC. Their 2026 season promises an exciting lineup of performances that will bring the quartet to audiences throughout the Munster region. In 2026, the Meliora Quartet will serve as the Fellowship Quartet at the ConCorda Chamber Music Course. They are also delighted to return to the West Cork Chamber Music Festival for the second consecutive year.

The name “Meliora” comes from the Latin word for “improvement,” a concept that lies at the core of the quartet’s artistic identity. Reflecting this ethos, the group is committed to deeply exploring their repertoire and sharing music with insight, curiosity, and collective joy.

Cillian Ó Cathasaigh, a fourth year BMus Student in MTU CSM studies violin with Katherine Hunka. He was a runner-up in the Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year Award 2024. Cillian is a multiple prizewinner in Feis Maitiu, Feis Ceoil and MTU CSM competitions. He was a soloist with IYBO at their concert at HandelFest in 2024. He was a member of the NYOI and is a member of Mahler student Festival Orchestra. He has been concertmaster of MTU CSM Symphony Orchestra and Cork Youth Orchestra, leading the latter for their 2023 concert tour of Italy.

Seán Hurley, a versatile violinist from Cobh, County Cork, is in his 2nd year of the BMus degree in MTU CSM, studying with Katherine Hunka. Last winter & summer, he enjoyed national tours as concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. He has also previously played with La Orquesta de las Américas in México, the European Youth Orchestra Academy in Germany and the Ulster Youth Orchestra, playing both violin and viola. Seán has won Feis Ceoil competitions such as The Arthur Catterall Cup and The Senior Chamber music cup. He is also a frequent prize winner at concerto, recital and chamber music competitions in MTU CSM.

Kseniia Yershova is a violin and viola player from Ukraine. She is currently in her third year of BMus degree at the MTU Cork School of Music under the tutelage of Gregory Ellis and Simon Aspell. Kseniia received the Jane Carty Memorial Prize at the Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year 2025 and won the Advanced Recital and Concerto Competitions at MTU CSM. She was one of the young musicians in the Camerata Ireland Academy in both 2024 and 2025, where she won the Flax Trust Bursary playing viola. As a passionate chamber musician, Kseniia performs on both violin and viola in various ensembles. Kseniia is also an active orchestral musician, frequently performing in different orchestras around Ireland, including the RTÉ Concert orchestra, Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, CSM Symphony Orchestra and recently played with Camerata Ireland.

Alina Obreja began her music journey in her hometown Chisinău, Moldova and took up the cello shortly after moving to Ireland with Sonja Cadogan in Portlaoise. Recently, Alina completed her Bachelor of Music degree at MTU Cork School of Music with a first class honours, specialising in cello performance under the tutelage of Christopher Marwood. Lately, she has performed with the Cork Opera House concert orchestra and lead the cello section of the MTU CSM Symphony Orchestra for two years. Alina has been numerously commended for her performances in the Advanced Recital Competitions in the MTU CSM and won the first prize in the Vanbrugh Chamber Music Competition with the Gealach Quartet in 2024. Alina has participated in the Ortús Festival in Cork, as part of the prizewinner’s concert. She enjoys performing within chamber groups, as part of the National String Quartet Foundation concert series and other such events.