After private studies in Amsterdam with Astrid Sillem, she became pupil of Herman Krebbers at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory of Music and subsequently of Charles-André Linale and Keiko Wataya in Utrecht.
Her numerous awards and diplomas include the DM and UM diplomas for violin and chamber music.
Femke Sonnen also received private tuition from Jaap Schröder, Ida Haendel, Sandór Vęgh and Mikhail Bezverchny.
From 1978 until 1985 she appeared every summer in France playing violin concerti of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Sugŕr with orchestra.
In 1985 Femke Sonnen was appointed concertmaster with The Primavera Chamber Orchestra Amsterdam, a position she held until 1990. During this period she regularly performed as a soloist in works by Elgar, Schubert, Beethoven, Grieg, and Mozart.
From 1990 until 1995 Femke Sonnen was principal second violin in the orchestra of the Flemish Opera. Since 1995 she holds the same position in the opera orchestra of the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg /Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels.
Femke Sonnen’s repertoire is of fascinating variety: it reaches from music of the Baroque area, which she performs on her baroque violin, to avantgarde experiments. As a performer of chamber music, she has a splendid reputation as a result of her concert work with numerous ensembles.
She is a member of Anima Eterna, an ensemble founded by Jos van Immerseel. On gut strings and old bows they give exciting performances of 18th and 19th century music.
She regularly appears in recital programs with pianists such as Kees Schul, Levente Kende and Daniel Blumenthal.
Since then, music lovers and devotees of the violin have followed her carefully. She refers to herself as a ‘chamber music laboratory’ and sets her aim at performing the marvels of the world chamber music literature.
Femke also likes crossover projects. She regularly performs and records with artists such as Wim Mertens, Johan de Smet and Guido Belcanto.
Projects for the future include chamber music recitals with works of Belŕ Bartňk, Olivier Messiaen and Erich Korngold.
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