The Vivere String Quartet (violinists Anna Bura and Dmytro Lysko, violist Ustym Zhuk, and cellist Dmytro Nikolayev) is an internationally acclaimed Ukrainian ensemble that brings to the world the music of contemporary Ukrainian composers, as well as masterpieces of the classical chamber music tradition and everything in between.

Founded in 2010 by students of the Lviv National Music Academy, the Vivere String Quartet quickly rose to national prominence, winning numerous awards and accolades, including the Grand Prize at the All-Ukrainian Chamber Ensemble and Quartet Competition (Lviv, 2013) and the First Prize at the V. Povzun All-Ukrainian Chamber Ensemble Competition (Odessa, 2014). Their exquisitely lyrical style paints stories of love, loss, darkness, light, war, and peace, with a broad palette ranging from heart-wrenching poignancy to explosive tension and transcendent calm.

Vivere has performed in Ukraine at the Lviv National Philharmonic, the historic Mirror Hall in the Lviv National Opera, and the prestigious “Virtuosos 40” Music Festival of 2021. Internationally, they have performed throughout North America and Europe. The Vivere String Quartet has recorded Ukrainian composer Ivan Karabyt’s String Quartet with Golka Records and Brahms’s Quintet with Dzhmil Records. “Prayer for Ukraine,” released with Phenotypic Recordings, showcases stories from Ukraine by Ukrainian composers.