The now renowned ensemble was founded in 1996 at the Faculty of Music and Dance of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (HTF VŠMU). Its founding members — Jana Mazáková (Zapletalová), Radka Kubrová (Krajčová), Miloš Slobodník, and Miloš Tomašovič — studied in Professor Jozef Zsapka’s class between 1988 and 1996. Later, Martin Krajčo joined the ensemble; he completed both his conservatory and university studies in Professor Zsapka’s class (1992–2008). Between 2007 and 2014, other graduates of Zsapka’s class — Vladimír Ondrejčák, Jana Babuliaková, and Karol Samuelčík — were also members of the quartet. Since 2016, the ensemble has included the Greek guitarist and composer Yorgos Nousis.
Both individually and collectively, the quartet members have participated in masterclasses with renowned artists and teachers such as Leo Brouwer, Costas Cotsiolis, Àlex Garrobé, Vladislav Mikulka, Yorgos Panetsos, and Laura Young Walker, among others. They have also successfully represented themselves at performance competitions in Slovakia and abroad (Czech Republic, France, Portugal, Austria, Italy), receiving numerous prestigious awards. The ensemble subsequently achieved success on both the domestic and international music scene, leading to many concert appearances at important events. The quartet has performed at guitar festivals in Belgrade, Bratislava, Kutná Hora, Mikulov, Esztergom, Rust, Vienna, and Volos, and has successfully appeared in concerts across European countries and capitals, including Madrid, Londonderry, Paris, and Prague. Among their notable achievements on the Slovak music scene are performances at the Bratislava Music Festival, appearances within the chamber music series of the Slovak Philharmonic, and the exceptional concert Tribute to Leo Brouwer, held in the presence of the composer during the 40th International J. K. Mertz Guitar Festival in Bratislava (2015).
The ensemble’s repertoire includes original compositions for guitar quartet, the group’s own arrangements, as well as concertante works by composers such as Breiner, Gismonti–Brouwer, and Rodrigo, which they have performed with numerous orchestras including Capella Istropolitana, the Žilina State Chamber Orchestra, and Musica Cassovia, under conductors such as Peter Breiner, Christoph Campestrini Dohnányi, Esteban, Mareček, and Potokár. The quartet is also regularly devoted to performing contemporary works by Slovak composers, having premiered compositions by Peter Breiner, Vladimír Godár, Ladislav Kupkovič, Martin Burlas, Egon Krák, Pavel Malovec, and others.
The Bratislava Guitar Quartet has appeared on Slovak Radio and has also successfully presented itself on the British broadcasting station BBC. The ensemble’s discography includes three CDs.
Members of the quartet are active as teachers at the Conservatory in Bratislava and at the Faculty of Music and Dance of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava.