Catherine Strynckx

French cellist Catherine studied in Paris, Prague, Basel, at the Menuhin Academy in Switzerland, and was tutored by musicians such, G. Kurtag, Y. Menuhin, N. Magaloff, A. Lysy, M. Strauss, R. Latzko, R. Aldulescu and B. Pergamentchikov.
Her chamber music ensembles have taken First Prize at the Caltanissetta and Trapani Chamber Music Competitions ( Italy), and 4th Prize at the competition in Firenze (Italy).
She was Principal cellist for 10 years of the Camerata Lysy, Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, and member of the Porto National Orchestra for 2 years.
She has been a founding member of the Serenade String Trio, the Sirius Ensemble and of the Trio A Piacere, and has performed in the USA, throughout Europe, The Sultanate of Oman, Thailand and Argentina. She has made recordings for radio, television and multiple CDs, including the Quatuor pour la fin du temps de Messiaen , works for string trio and clarinet from J. Françaix, B. Martinu and Penderecki (Gallo Label). Her last recordings were ; “Escape” Stretto Duo and “Flutuaçóes” com K. Rawdon (Duo for Flute and cello from A. Pinto-Correia e 3 poems for solo cello from A. Victorino de Almeida).
Chamber music and teaching are an essential part of Catherine profissional activity. Alongside the Lopes-Graça String Quartet, she is member of the Syrinxello (recorder, flute and cello) and the Stretto Duo (Accordion and cello).
An eclectic and refined musician, her repertory includes works from the baroque through to contemporary music, collaborating frequently with composers. With the ensemble Orchestrutópica she premiered works by A. Delgado and Andreia Pinto￾Correia among others,
She has taught at the Conservatories of Besançon and Belfort (França), and has given courses in Thailand, Brazil, Switzerland, Portugal and Germany. After teaching 20 years in the University of Castelo Branco, she is now a professor of cello in the National Conservatory in Lisbon.