The Pro Arte Quartet was founded by Alphonse Onnou in Brussels, Belgium, in 1912. The quartet gained prominence as the Court Quartet to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium and began international tours in 1919. They became known for performing modern music and extensive recordings of Haydn's works. Notable composers such as Bartók, Milhaud, and Honegger entrusted new pieces to the ensemble for premiere performances. The Pro Arte Quartet made its American debut in New York in 1926. In 1941, during a tour in Wisconsin, the quartet was offered residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison due to being stranded by the outbreak of World War II.
