Francien Schatborn

Francien Schatborn studied viola with Jürgen Kussmaul at the Sweelinck Conservatorium, Amsterdam. In 1995 she received her diploma as performing musician Cum Laude. The masterclasses she followed include those with: Tabea Zimmermann, Fjodor Drushinin and Kim Kashkashian, and chamber music with Menahem Pressler and Istvan Parkanyi. In 1994, together with duo partner, pianist Jeannette Koekkoek she was awarded the Zilveren Vriendenkrans of the Koninklijk Concertgebouw-Concertgebouworkest. This duo which has given concerts in the Netherlands, Italy, France and the USA, released its' first CD with romantic Dutch music in December 2003 on the label Etcetera. Their 2nd CD with the complete viola sonatas of Röntgen, was released on Etcetera in 2006.
Francien Schatborn has been principal viola of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest conducted by Jaap van Zweden since 1995. She is extremely active as a chamber musican. In addition to performing with the Nederlands Pianokwartet, she has concerts in Europe, North and South America and Asia with groups including the Reizend Muziekgezelschap directed by Christiaan Bor. As a soloist she has performed with several orchestras including; the Radio Kamerorkest, the Noord-Hollands Philharmonisch Orkest, Holland Symfonia, het Nederlands Studenten Orkest and her own orchestra, the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest.