Orpheus Instituut welcomes Véronique Mathieu as visiting researcher
Nieuws 28 september 2025October 2025 - January 2026
Orpheus Institute welcomes Véronique Mathieu as visiting researcher. Her project investigates how specially commissioned violin etudes focusing on contemporary techniques can support performers in mastering the demands of 20th- and 21st-century repertoire, bridging the gap between traditional training and modern performance practices.
Orpheus Instituut is pleased to welcome Véronique Mathieu as a visiting researcher. She's a professor of violin at the University of Saskatchewan, and will join us during her sabbatical to advance her project on the development of a new anthology of violin etudes dedicated to contemporary techniques.
Her research addresses the persistent gap between traditional violin training and the technical demands of contemporary repertoire. While most standard etudes prepare performers for Baroque, Classical, and Romantic works, few resources exist to guide students through the extended techniques and complex rhythms that define modern compositions. To fill this void, Véronique is collaborating with twelve composers, each contributing an etude focused on a specific technique. Together, these works will form a critical edition designed for intermediate to advanced students, complemented by editorial notes, recordings, and pedagogical materials.
After decades of performing and teaching contemporary music, I am convinced that violinists need systematic training to meet the challenges of modern repertoire.Véronique Mathieu - Associate Professor of Violin, University of Saskatchewan
"This project provides a pedagogical framework that not only strengthens technical fluency but also ensures that living composers’ works are performed with the clarity and confidence they deserve." Veronique believes Orpheus Instituut offers a stimulating environment to finalise the etudes and situate them within broader discussions on performance, pedagogy, and editorial practice.
At Orpheus Instituut, Véronique will refine the content of the etudes, develop editorial commentary, and prepare recordings and tutorial materials. Her residency will also involve exchanges with researchers such as Marco Fusi and Luk Vaes, whose expertise in performance practice and editorial projects offers valuable perspectives. The residency will concentrate on three key areas: finalising the anthology of twelve etudes; documenting their performance through audio-visual materials; and preparing dissemination through forthcoming conferences for string teachers in North America and Europe.
By combining performance, pedagogy, and research creation, Véronique’s project contributes to urgent conversations about how musicians are trained to engage with contemporary music. Her work resonates with Orpheus’s focus on performance practice and the development of new pedagogical resources, ensuring that the next generation of violinists is equipped to meet the demands of today’s repertoire.
We warmly welcome Véronique Mathieu to our institute and look forward to the insights her research will bring to our community.
