Lois Loos

I started playing the violin at the age of nine and quickly discovered that music was my greatest passion. At fourteen, I was accepted into the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where I combined my high school studies with intensive music lessons. Around the age of sixteen, I switched to the viola—an instrument that has since become my best friend and takes me wherever music can inspire me.

I’ve had my viola for ten years now, and during that time it has been my constant companion. At first, the instrument seemed to come with an “instruction manual,” but I’ve since mastered it completely: I know exactly how to produce the most beautiful sounds and make full use of the instrument’s potential.

After earning my bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatory and completing an Erasmus exchange at the Conservatorio di Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, I pursued a master’s degree in Music Performance at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, Switzerland. I then went on to earn the Postgraduate Artist Diploma at the Stauffer Center for Strings. Throughout these programs, I’ve had the opportunity to gain experience in orchestras and chamber music, which has greatly deepened my musical development.

My orchestral experience includes, among others, the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where I served as principal violist and performed the solo from *Manon Lescaut* before a sold-out theater. I also played in the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, where I participated as an “academist.”

For now, my focus is on preparing for auditions and starting my own ensemble. Wherever I go, my beautiful red viola stands out. It’s a special instrument whose sound is instantly recognizable and that has accompanied me on my musical journey for ten years.