Founded in 1981 by violinist Frank Schilli, violist Rolf Schilli, and cellist Martin Merker, the
Offenburg String Trio is named for its home city, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. (The fortissimo in the ensemble's name is usually italicized.) This chamber group was initially coached by members of the
Bartholdy Quartet, then later trained by
Walter Levin of the La Salle Quartet, and
Hubert Buchberger of the
Buchberger Quartet. Participation in master classes with the German String Trio and the Trio à cordes français led to successful tours around the world, and the trio has won several international competitions, as well as appearing in many concerts and broadcasts. The trio has recorded works by Jean Cras,
Albert Roussel, and Jean Françaix on Antes Edition, and the late string trios by
Julius Röntgen on Naxos.