The Edinburgh Quartet is resident at the Ian Tomlin School of Music Napier University and at the University of Glasgow. It is among the UK's longest-established university-based ensembles, having been founded in 1959 by Professor Sydney Newman at the University of Edinburgh, where it continues to play an integral role.

After its formation the Edinburgh Quartet quickly became established as one of the foremost Brisitsh ensembles. Whilst its broad base of international activities has always enabled a deep study of the great mainstream of classical quartet repertoire, the Quartet is also enthusiastic to encourage newer writers.

Having worked closely with Michael Tippett, its recording of Quartet No 1 was selected by the composer for re-release shortly before his death. This relationship was one of many, continuing to the present time, which won for the Edinburgh Quartet the Contemporary Music Prize at the Evian-les-Bains String Quartet Competition and the first PRS Award to be given by the Scottish Society of Composers. A testament to this can be found in the large and increasing number of recordings the Edinburgh Quartet has made of works by composers with whom it has been closely associated: the complete quartets of Kenneth Leighton and Hans Gal ("Editor's Choice", Gramophone Magazine October 2007) are being followed by recordings of works by Thomas Wilson, Robert Crawford, Kenneth Dempster, Bill Sweeney and a younger generation including Wagstaff, Nitibhon and Ip.

In addition to regular tours to Western Europe, the USA and Canada, the Edinburgh Quartet has travelled to South America, the Caribbean, Poland, Russia, Croatia, many Middle Eastern countries, Hong Kong and Singapore. A strong educational programme has contributed hugely over the years to the musical development of the young and the young at heart alike.