Femke Ylstra is one of the most success-full saxophonists of her generation. Public, jury and press are impressed by her versatility and expressiveness. The saxophone brought Femke around the globe. She gave concerts in over 30 countries, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Japan and Indonesia.Femke finished her masters degree ‘cum laude’ with Arno Bornkamp in Amsterdam and had lessons with eminent professors, Claude Delangle, Jean-Marie Londeix and Eugene Rousseau. Femke is a multiple award winner in national competitions and international auditions.Ylstra plays on a regularly basis with world’s leading orchestras under world famous conductors like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich.In recent years Femke profiles herself more and more as a soloïst. She gives recitals with her pianist and made solo appearances with Magogo String Orchestra, L’Orchestre Symphonique L’opéra Toulon (under the baton of Jurjen Hempel), The North Netherlands Orchestra (under the baton of Dirk Brossé and Frans-Aert Burghgraef).Several Dutch composers have written for Femke, like Jacob TV, Bernard van Beurden, Guillermo Lago, Richard Rijnvos and Douwe Eisenga.Ylstra is one of the youngest female senior professors in Europe, holding this position from when she was only 29 years old. She teaches saxophone at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen and from season’22-’23 also at Codarts in Rotterdam, both in The Netherlands.Chamber music is a big love. Femke played several years soprano sax in the renowned Aurelia Saxophone Quartet and currently plays in Syrène Saxophone Quartet. She is involved in numerous projects in music theatre and chamber music projects.Recordings with the label Aliud and TRPTK got very high rankings and positive feedback in the press. Colores del Sur is her latest recording where we hear Femke play music by South- European composers like Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albeniz and Maurice Ravel.
