Marieke Blankestijn

Marieke Blankestijn (violin) was born in The Hague, Netherlands and began her studies at an early age. She studied with Herman Krebbers in Amsterdam and later with Sandor Vegh in Salzburg, where, at the age of 21, she won the International Mozart Competition.

Since 1985 she has been the Leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with whom she appears frequently as a soloist working with Claudio Abbado and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, and performing in London, Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Cologne and Salzburg. Marieke also has an extensive solo and chamber music career in Holland having performed with almost all of the Dutch Orchestras and appeared on radio and television. She has frequently directed the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and has recorded all the Brandenburg Concertos with them and made her own recording of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", both to critical acclaim. She has recorded the Haydn Sinfonia Concertante with Stephen Isserlis and the Bach Oboe and Violin Concerto with Douglas Boyd. She has recently been appointed Principal guest leader with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and tours regularly with them. She is a member of the Gaudier Ensemble and frequently tours, broadcasts and records with them.