The Havana String Quartet, a Cuban chamber group, was created in 1980 by Leo Brouwer with the goal of performing Latin American repertoire for that format. Its instrumental format consists of three violins and a cello. Its members are Yamir Portuondo (first violin); Eugenio Valdés (second violin); Jorge Hernández (viola); and Deborah Yamak (cello).

This chamber group has performed on stages throughout Cuba and at national and international festivals dedicated to Cuban music. In 1987, they participated in the Havana Chamber Music Festival, where they received the Award for Interpretive Mastery.

That same year, they traveled to Argentina, where they performed at the Teatro Colón, the Recoleta, and the Casa de la Amistad in Buenos Aires; and in Córdoba, at the Teatro Libertador. In Uruguay, they performed at venues in Montevideo and San José.

The following year, they participated in the Pyongyang International Spring Festival, where they performed three times at the Gran Teatro in North Korea. They traveled again to Argentina, where they performed at the Teatro Municipal in Bahía Blanca; the Auditorio Fundación in Rosario; and in other cities such as Córdoba, Santa Fé, and Buenos Aires. In Sardinia, Italy, they performed at the closing ceremony of the “SPAZIOMUSICA” International Festival, held at the Auditorium Biblioteca S. Satta in Nuoro.

In 1989, they performed at the Chamartín Cultural Center; the La Villa Cultural Center; the Colegio Mayor; and the Buenavista Cultural Center. They also gave a master class at the Tristán Music Academy and the University of Salamanca Auditorium.

Already in the 1990s, in 1990, they participated in the Gran Festival Ciudad de México in Mexico, performing at venues such as the Sala Manuel Ponce, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the National Museum. They also traveled to Bulgaria, where they performed in Sofia and Russe.

In 1992, they performed in Spain at the Cuban Pavilion at the Seville Expo. In 1993, they performed at the San Pablo College in Madrid, at the Viana Palace, and in the Segovia Centenary Concert Series in León. A year later, they played at the Polytechnic University of Córdoba; participated in the Córdoba Guitar Festival; performed at the Sala de Las Columnas in Seville; at the Olivares Veas Theater in Arcos de la Frontera; and in the French music series at the Juan March Foundation, all in Spain.

In 1995, they performed at the Church of Nuestra Sra de los Dolores in Seville; at the Parish of Nuestra Sra de los Angeles; at the Córdoba Guitar Festival; and at the Viana Palace on two occasions; in Spain. In 1996, they performed at the Alicante International Festival in Alicante; and at the 20th Century Music Festival in Bilbao.

A year later, in Spain, they performed at the Ateneo Popular in Almodóvar del Río; at the Palacio de Viana; and at the Andalusian Contemporary Music Festival. In 1998,
In Madrid, they participated in the Ibero-American Music Week at the SGAE (Spanish Association of Spanish Music Associations). In 1999, they performed at the Bilbao Festival; the Conservatorio Superior de Córdoba; the Toledo Conservatory; and the Alcalá de Henares Conservatory. In Bern, Switzerland, they performed at the Conservatory Hall.

In the first year of the new millennium, the Havana String Quartet performed at the
Juan March Foundation, during the 20th-century musical nationalism cycle in Spain. In that country, they also participated in the 6th Contemporary Music Cycle in Málaga; gave concerts at the Linares Conservatory and the Maestranza Theater (Manuel García Hall); in the 20th-century music cycle at the Alcazar of Córdoba; and at the Conservatory of Córdoba.

In 2001, they performed at the Royal Stables in Cordoba, Spain. In England, they performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The following year, 2002, they participated in the Ibero-American Quartet Cycle at the Juan March Foundation in Spain. In 2003, they performed at the Conde Duque Cultural Center in Spain and at the Auditorium of the Segovia Conservatory.

In 2004, they performed at the Córdoba International Guitar Festival in Spain, where they shared the stage with Spanish guitarist Javier Riba and performed quintet works by Manuel Castillo, Juan de Dios García, and Leo Brouwer.

In 2006, they performed a concert for the closing session of the International Council of Music Authors (CIAM) in Spain. In March, they performed in the Hall of Mosaics of the Royal Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs in Córdoba. In May and June, they gave a concert at the Benamejí Palace in Écija, Spain.

The Havana String Quartet displays a varied and broad repertoire made up of works by great composers such as Haydn, Mozart, Dvorak, Ravel, Toon de Leeuw, I. Lang, Webern, Barce, Villa-Rojo or T. Marco, Revueltas, Manuel Enríquez or Garrido-Leca, Ginastera and Villa-Lobos, and others.

They have shared stages and experiences with prominent musical figures and groups such as Leo Brouwer, Elliot Fisk, Pepe Romero, and Javier Perianes and Buena Vista Social Club.

He has premiered works such as: Quartet No. 1 (Silvestre Revueltas); Benny Moré Redivivo (Carlos Malcolm); Quartet No. 1 (Leo Brouwer); Quartet No. 1 (H. Villa-Lobos); Quartet (Fernando García); Residuos (Juan Piñera); Quartet (Roberto Valera); Quartet (Alfredo Diez Nieto); Quartet (S. Horvat); Quartet (Magali Ruíz); Sensual Habanera and Capricious Contradanza (Guido Lopez-Gavilán); Boceto allegro (Carlos Alvarez); Quartet (José Loyola); Quartets 1, 2 and 3 (L. Pacheco de Céspedes); Trio of bows (Leo Brouwer); among many others.

He has released albums under the Cuban record label EGREM. His music has also been featured on radio and television programs in countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Throughout its career, the Havana String Quartet has received several awards, including the Award for Interpretive Mastery.