Edith Volckaert (August 27, 1949 – July 2, 1992) was a Belgian

violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists * List of contemporary classical violinists * List of jazz violinists * List of popular music violinists * List of Indian violinists * List of Persian violinists * Li ...

and music educator. She was born in

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

. By the age of four, she had already given a public performance of a

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...

concerto. Volckaert received private lessons from

Carlo Van Neste Carlo Van Neste (1 April 1914 in Antwerp – 12 July 1992 in Brussels) was a Belgian violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists * List of contemporary classical violinists * List of jazz violinis ...

, who was to be her only teacher. Volckaert won a number of international awards including the International Tibor Varga Violin Competition, the Mozart Competition, the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

competition and the prize from the

Taormina Taormina ( , , also , ; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina, on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy. Taormina has been a tourist destination since the 19th century. Its beaches on the Ionian Sea, incl ...

Festival in

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

. In 1967, she placed first for violin in the

Maria Canals International Music Competition The Maria Canals International Music Competition (, ) is a music competition held yearly in the Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona. It was founded as a piano competition in 1954, but in 1964 it was expanded so other modalities could be held oc ...

. At the age of 19, she received a scholarship from the Belgian National Pro Civitate competition. In 1971, she was a prize winner in the

Queen Elisabeth Competition The Queen Elisabeth Competition (, ) is an international competition for career-starting musicians held in City of Brussels, Brussels. The competition is named after Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (1876–1 ...

, placing fifth in the final standings. She became a jury member for the competition in 1976. She performed in Berlin, Moscow, Salzburg, Paris, London and the United States as a soloist and with

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

groups. She played a violin produced during the late 17th century by a follower of

Giovanni Paolo Maggini Giovanni Paolo Maggini (c. 1580 - c. 1630), was a luthier born in Botticino (Brescia), Republic of Venice. Maggini was a pupil of the most important violin maker of the Brescian school, Gasparo da Salò. Maggini's early instruments are now con ...

, possibly

Andrea Guarneri Andrea Guarneri (1626, in Casalbuttano; 1698, in Cremona) was an Italian luthier, musician and founder of the Casa Guarneri. He is the most important student of Nicola Amati and grandfather of one of the best luthiers, Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guar ...

. Volckaert taught at the

Royal Conservatory of Brussels The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (, ) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Providing performing music and drama courses, the institution became renowned par ...

but retired from teaching there in 1978 to devote herself to performing. She suffered from an incurable cancer for the last six years of her life but continued to teach until the last few months.

References

Musicians from Ghent 1949 births 1992 deaths Belgian music educators Belgian women violinists Belgian women music educators Academic staff of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels 20th-century Belgian classical violinists Women classical violinists {{Belgium-music-bio-stub