Goeyvaerts String Trio

The Goeyvaerts String Trio, founded in 1997, is dedicated exclusively to 20th- and 21st-century repertoire, taking its name from Belgian composer Karel Goeyvaerts, a key figure in European new music. The ensemble, Fedra Coppens (violin), Ana Sofia Sousa (viola), Pieter Stas (cello)—not only performs existing works but actively commissions new string trios.
Their acclaimed recordings include a Challenge Records album featuring Schoenberg, Webern, and Schnittke, which received top ratings, a Golden Label from Klassiek Centraal, a Klara Award nomination, and a Gramophone recommendation. String Trios from the East (2012) with works by Gubaidulina, Knaifel, Paiberdin, and Kancheli was praised for its “near-impossible” precision. In 2014, their crowd-funded Stabat Mater (Arvo Pärt and Ivan Moody) earned an Edison Award, Klara’s Ensemble of the Year, and the 2014 Culture Prize of Sint-Niklaas. Recent releases include Whispers of Titans (Korndorf, Górecki) and Klang by Wolfgang von Schweinitz, featured in an ARTE documentary.
The trio has premiered works by Charles Wuorinen (Guggenheim, NY), Linda Catlin Smith, Pascale Criton, and Robin Verheyen, with collaborations documented on albums such as Blues, Reds and other Songs (2024). As ensemble-in-residence at KMSKA, they developed programs around the museum’s renovation and collection, including a project with saxophonist Andrew Claes (STUFF) using real-time data for string and robot scores. With support from their hometown Sint-Niklaas, they curate the annual Passages festival, blending local and international talent across genres.