Concert Triofenix

Shirly Laub (violin), Tony Nys (viola), and Karel Steylaerts (cello) have formed TrioFenix since 2006, a Belgian string trio that has established itself as a reference in the national and international chamber music world. Together, the three musicians explore the repertoire for string trio with a rare unity of thought and performance. TrioFenix does not limit itself to works from the classical repertoire alone: it likes to open the horizon to new forms, diverse collaborations, and bold transcriptions. Their various recordings and numerous concerts illustrate their rigorous yet lively approach to chamber music: an art of dialogue, detail, and listening, carried by an unwavering friendship that has lasted for twenty years. Shirly Laub studied at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels with Clemens Quatacker and subsequently perfected her skills in Utrecht with Wiktor Liberman and Philippe Hirshhorn. As the winner of the title \"Young soloist of the French-speaking public radio stations\" and the Juventus Prize of the Raad van Europa, she combines her career as a chamber musician with a career as a teacher and performs in major concert halls all over the world (Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Teatro Colón, etc.). As first violinist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London from 1998 to 2005, she is regularly invited to perform with prestigious ensembles including the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London. Since 2003, she has been a violin professor at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles and first violinist of the Oxalys ensemble. Tony Nys also studied in Brussels with Clemens Quatacker and Philippe Hirschhorn. As a violinist and later violist, he distinguished himself early on as a chamber musician. First with the Quatuor Fétis, and then as a violist with the Quatuor Danel from 1998 to 2005, with whom he performed on major international stages and festivals. As a curious and eclectic musician, he collaborates with ensembles such as Ictus, Ensemble Modern, Prometheus, and Oxalys. He has shared the stage with artists such as Gérard Caussé, Garth Knox, Frank Braley, and Alina Ibragimova. From 2007 to 2018, he worked as solo viola in the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg and played with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, and Gustavo Dudamel. He teaches viola and chamber music at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel. Karel Steylaerts studied cello with Carlo Schmitz in Brussels and then in Cologne with Maria Kliegel. With the Europees Jeugdorkest, he worked under conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and Claudio Abbado. As a winner of the Tenuto Concours, he founded the Tröndlin Pianoforte Trio in 1990, which specialized in repertoire on historical instruments. Since 2008, he has been solo cello at Brussels Philharmonic, while simultaneously continuing an active career in chamber music. He teaches at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles and has been accompanying the Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd since 2017. His recording of Bach's six suites for solo cello (Etcetera, 2022) was highly praised by critics.