The Monasterium Guitar Quartet brings together four musicians whose artistic journeys crossed paths in the city of Münster, Westphalia, Germany.

Founded in 2020, the quartet came together to record an album for the NAXOS label, focusing on the refined — and rarely performed — four-guitar works of Spanish-French composer Antonio Ruiz-Pipó. For this project, guitarist Wolfgang Weigel invited three longtime musical companions: Hugo Germán Gaido, Günther Lebbing, and Bernd Kortenkamp — all outstanding artists and former students of his class at the Musikhochschule Münster.

What began as a temporary studio collaboration quickly grew into a deep musical partnership. The joy of playing together and the shared desire to bring this repertoire to the concert stage soon solidified the group.

The name Monasterium reflects the Latin origin of the city name “Münster.” It also evokes the spirit of a monastery — a place of brotherhood, devotion, and connection — values the quartet embraces both personally and artistically.

Shortly after completing their first recording, the group faced a painful loss: Bernd Kortenkamp — friend, colleague, and founding member — passed away unexpectedly. In deep sorrow, and with profound gratitude for the time shared, the remaining members made the decision to carry on in his memory.

Monasterium Guitar Quartet in its original formation / Photo: Ludmila Jeremies

In Jhon Jiménez — an internationally active artist and also a former student of Wolfgang Weigel — the ensemble found a gifted and worthy successor. Together, the four musicians developed their first full-length concert program: Mirando al Sur — a tribute to Spain, the cradle of the guitar and home to many of its early 20th-century masters, and to the southern spirit that resonates deeply with the ensemble’s identity.

What sets Monasterium apart is not just their artistic excellence, but the profound human connection at the heart of their collaboration. A friendship spanning nearly three decades forms the foundation of their musical dialogue — an expression of trust, openness, and a rich intercultural exchange between European and Latin American traditions. This fusion is the soul of the quartet’s unique sound.