Second Violin

Michelle Dierx is a Dutch violinist hailing from Zoersel, Belgium and is thrilled to join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in its 2023 season. Michelle is an active orchestral and chamber musician based in Scotland and performs with some of the UK’s top ensembles.She is principal second violinist of Broen Ensemble, which tours extensively around Scotland and recently received the Tunnell Trust Award. She is the violinist and founding member of Trio Doyenne, an internationally formed piano trio that gives yearly tours around Scotland. The trio was Highly Commended in the 2018 Governor’s Recital Prize for Chamber Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and received first place at the 24th Josep Mirabent i Magrans Chamber Music Competition in Sitges, Spain. Michelle also received first place at the Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Prize with the Kyan Quartet and made her London debut at the Purcell Room in February 2020 with the Turadh String Quartet after a successful audition at Wigmore Hall. The Turadh String Quartet is also part of the 5-year Yeomen Programme for young artists with the Musicians’ Company.

As an orchestral musician Michelle enjoys freelancing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble and English Chamber Orchestra.

Michelle studied with Annemieke Corstens at the Young Musicians Academy at the Conservatory in Tilburg (Netherlands) before she moved to Scotland in 2014. She studied with Gina McCormack and Joseph Swensen at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she received a Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours. In 2021, Michelle completed a Masters of Arts with Distinction at the Royal Academy of Music with Richard Ireland.

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Join the Principal Conductor's Circle.

Quickfire questions

What was your first concert experience?

My first concert experience was a Christmas concert organised by the Flemish Suzuki School for Violin, which is where I learned to play the violin.

Which concerts this Season are you especially looking forward to, and why?

For the next few months I’m really looking forward to the weeks working with Nicolas Alstaedt, Nicola Benedetti and Benjamin Gilmore. I’m always excited to work with string players as directors. I’m also looking forward to the weeks working with our principal conductor Maxim.

What does creativity mean to you?

For me creativity means exploring different things in life whether it’s working on music with my colleagues or trying to learn a new hobby. I love learning from others and pushing myself in new ways.

What is your favourite cuisine?

My favourite food would be the Taiwanese cuisine, I used to visit my grandparents there a lot and my grandmother’s cooking is the best food I’ve ever had.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Shortly after waking up, our Fox-red Labrador Leo usually comes through and joyfully tells us good morning. If there’s time we will then take him for a nice long morning walk. This is usually my favourite time of day.