Sarah Bayens - Winner 2008

Sarah Bayens (born 2000) began playing the violin at the age of five. She studied with Koen Rens in Turnhout until she started her professional training at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, under the guidance of Shirly Laub, where she studied until 2023. Currently, she is pursuing her studies in Vienna, under the tutelage of Ulf Wallin at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien. 

A versatile musician, Sarah is dedicated to exploring as many facets of classical music as possible, including solo performances, chamber music, and orchestral work. In 2019, she won the prestigious Young Belgian Talent competition. She was named Young Musician of the Year 2022 by the Belgian Music Press Association and was part of De Twintigers, a program organized by Radio Klara. The Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles has awarded her numerous prizes, including the Prix Maurice Lefranc and Prix Colonel de Bisschop.

In 2017, Sarah performed as a soloist with the ORFEO Chamber Orchestra, and in February 2023, she interpreted Kurt Weill’s Violin Concerto with the orchestra of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In June 2023, she also performed as a soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège as part of the Classic Academy.

Sarah has participated in masterclasses with renowned violinists such as Hilary Hahn, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Lorenzo Gatto, among others. She has been invited to perform at several festivals, including Midis Minimes, Festival l’Eté Mosan, Musicorum Festival, and the Festival en Poitou.

In addition to her solo and orchestral career, Sarah has been an active member of various chamber music ensembles. She is currently part of the Susato Trio, a piano trio that won first prize at the Génération Classique competition, as well as the Supernova competition, organized by Radio Klara, and 3rd prize at the Premio Trio di Trieste competition in Italy. The Susato Trio is regularly programmed both nationally and internationally. Since 2023, Sarah has also been performing with the Trio Fenix and ensemble Oxalys.

Sarah has extensive orchestral experience, having served as concertmaster for two years with the Youth Orchestra Flanders, where she performed under the baton of conductors such as Stéphane Denève and Edwin Outwater. She has also substituted with many professional orchestras in Belgium and won spots in the Orchestral Academies of the Belgian National Orchestra and the Royal Opera House of La Monnaie in 2021.

ONE SISTER PLAYS THE FLUTE, THE OTHER VIOLIN AND PIANO AND HER PARENTS ARE MUSICAL TOO. IT COULD BE SAID THAT IT WAS
IN HER GENES TO WIN THE YOUNG BELGIAN TALENT CONTEST IN 2018 AS A VIOLINIST. ALTHOUGH THE LOCKDOWN WAS NOT EASY
FOR HER, BECAUSE ALL CONCERTS WERE CANCELED, TWO YEARS ON FROM HER VICTORY SARAH CONTINUES AS MUCH AS EVER.

I like to be busy every moment of the day and suddenly, I find myself back at home with my parents for two months. When my concert schedule was well filled, I wanted more time to practice my own programme. Later I had more time but strangely enough it didn’t make me happy. I couldn’t play music with others, take lessons or attend live concerts. I even missed the days when, in between rehearsals, I only had time to eat an apple for lunch. I remain realistic, because we can only accept the situation.

Did you see any bright spots during the corona crisis?

Because I missed playing music so much, I felt even more strongly during lockdown that I had made the right choice to study to be a musician. Making music is all I want to do, but because of my busy schedule, I had to learn to say ‘no’ sometimes. I needed more time for self-study. Because of this I made more progress than with only giving performances. Therefore, now I only choose a project if it allowes me to progress towards reaching the highest level by playing with similarly driven musicians.

Which composers’ works have you been studying the last few months?

I seek a balance between different styles and composers according to the projects that present themselves, such as the violin music of Mozart and Paganini, in addition to the chamber music of Grieg, Bartók and Brahms. I hope to be able to perform these works soon. Together with Professor Laub, we are putting together my repertoire for the new academic year: we each choose pieces which, normally, are linked to my exams or concerts. During Lockdown, I even had the chance to play the piano more than before. 

Do you feel as connected to the piano as you do to the violin?

I was five years old when I started playing the violin, ten when I started the piano. I do love the piano, but I prefer the violin! Somehow, its special sound offers many more possibilities for me. I take my violin with me everywhere, like a mother with her child. Professor Laub lent me her violin. It’s made by Bernardel, a very famous French violin maker. I love its broad pallet of sound. That’s why I chose to play it during the YBT finals. Every day I feel a stronger connection with the Bernardel. I am really in love with it. Someday I will have to look for another violin, but until then, I will enjoy our ‘relationship’ as long as it lasts.

How are you doing in your studies?

I have just finished my third bachelor year. For my recital I had rehearsed Eugène Ysaÿe’s first solo sonata and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown, my recital was cancelled and I could not obtain a grade for my degree. 

Would you rather perform with a chamber orchestra or as a soloist?

I like variation in life. Chamber music is my ultimate dream, but a solo performance is also a great experience. Maybe I’ll combine the two. Playing with a large orchestra also seems appealing but that requires different skills. Together with all your fellow musicians you must give the performance in the way the conductor wants it. I’m only at the beginning of my journey and perhaps after some years of orchestral experience I will know better what I want.

Tell me about your quartet

I enjoy every rehearsal with my quartet. It does not have a fixed line-up because the members sometimes go their own way to follow a training course or focus on their solo careers. This variation gives me the opportunity to work with different musicians and combinations. Sometimes we add a piano or clarinet to enjoy a wider repertoire as a quintet. So, it offers me a great opportunity to play a whole variety of works.

Are you competitive?

I am only competitive towards myself, not towards other musicians. I like to challenge myself and always want to play better and bring my technique and musicality to a higher level.

How do you see the future?

I will definitely stay with Shirly Laub for another two years. She is a fabulous teacher. She works so hard, always encouraging her students to work and play together. Like my early violin teacher in Turnhout, Shirly also stresses the importance of good posture to avoid the risk of tendinitis. Then I will leave Brussels behind me, no matter how nice it is here. By then I will want to broaden my horizons and look for another teacher to learn from. As a musician, you need to continuously develop. I like to follow as many Master classes as possible. This way I get to know other musicians and discover other cultures. Germany, with its unparalleled music history, appeals to me. Vienna, too, seems an interesting alternative.

You seem to have your life under control.

Yes, that’s true. At least insofar as I know what I want, when I want it and how I want it!