About the Zaska String Quartet
The Zaska Quartet is a Birmingham-based string quartet formed in 2024 by students and graduates of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire: Zinnia Smart (violin), Kalu Ramirez (violin), Sian Cobb (viola), and Aidan Hopkins (cello). The ensemble performs a diverse repertoire spanning classical and Baroque works, film music, pop arrangements, and traditional folk melodies.
Alongside its modern repertoire, the quartet specialises in historically informed performance, presenting Baroque music on period instruments fitted with gut strings and played with Baroque bows. Their work has been shaped by guidance from leading specialists including Lucy Russell, Kate Fawcett, and Miki Takahashi. In June 2026, the quartet was awarded the Corton-Hyde Early Music Prize for their performance on period instruments.
The Zaska Quartet performs regularly in concerts, weddings, and private events, bringing engaging and versatile programmes to a wide range of audiences.
Zinnia Smart - Violin
Zinnia Smart is a violinist from south Suffolk, graduated from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2025 studying both modern and baroque violin. Zinnia regularly performs Classical, Baroque and Folk music in concerts as part of ensembles including: the Musical and Amicable Society, Perula Collective, Filkins Ensemble, Juniper, Triptych and Jezt and Zaska String Quartets. During her final year of study, she played with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia as part of their training scheme and was awarded first prize in the Corton-Hyde Early Music Prize in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Kalu Ramirez - Violin
Kalu Ramirez, a half Spanish half Indian violinist started playing when he was 7 after watching a Leonidas Kavakos concert. In Hereford he studied with Suzuki teacher Selina Hamilton, meanwhile performing with the Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of GB, and as concertmaster of the Hereford Youth Orchestra. He has recently completed his undergraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the watchful eye of Nathaniel Vallois. During his time at RBC he received coaching from members of the Adelphi Quartet, Thomas Riebel, Tim Smedley and Nick Stringfellow to name a few. Kalu has done several orchestral concerts with the CBSO Youth, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, Kimichi Symphony Orchestra and RBC Orchestras. He is also interested in pedagogical work, currently employed with SfE (Birmingham Music Service), and in the middle of a Suzuki L1 Teacher Training course with Heather Clemson.
Sian Cobb - Viola
Sian is a violist from Essex, currently in her 4th year of undergraduate study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She began playing the viola in 2015 and achieved a distinction in her ARSM in 2022 whilst studying under Megan Hill and Tegen Harrison. She was principal viola of Essex Youth Orchestra from 2019-2024 and during this time toured with the orchestra to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Since starting at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2023, Sian has been a member of the RBC Symphony Orchestra, Final Projects Orchestra, Repertoire Orchestra and Baroque Orchestra. Whilst at RBC she has studied viola with Lucy Nolan and Elliott Perks and also has developed a keen interest in baroque playing and studies baroque viola under Kate Fawcett.
Aidan Hopkins - Cello
Aidan Hopkins is a cellist from Birmingham. He is currently in his 4th year of undergraduate education at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying cello performance under the tutelage of Ben Davies. He achieved his ARSM in 2023 under Jadie Carey. He has several orchestral achievements, some of which include being principal cellist of the CBSO Youth Orchestra in 2024, leading RBC’s Symphony Orchestra in 2024, and is a mentor for the Apollo Orchestra. Alongside his principal study, Aidan is an avid folk musician, playing the Uilleann pipes and Irish whistle, and also has interest in baroque cello and historical performance.Aidan Hopkins is